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Paige Was Only Telling The Truth
By Frank Salvato
February 27, 2004

Education Secretary Rod Paige recently called the National Education Association a "terrorist organization." While I am hard pressed to disagree with him, I will say that his choice of words was rather inappropriate. Instead of a "terrorist organization" perhaps he should have called them a "mafia." That would have made more sense.

What else would you call an organization who has colluded with the states to force teachers to either be a part of their organization, complete with liberal agenda and lobbyists, or pay an equal share to the dues expected and receive no voice in representation? This is a fact and there is no denying it. A teacher has a tough row to hoe, and is unofficially labeled as a "non-conformist", if they don't want to be a member of the NEA.

New teachers are automatically slated to contribute to the NEA with those in many states offered little choice of whether to do so or not. If a teacher has a problem with management the process of having their grievance addressed is a long and arduous one that many times can contribute to a non-tenured teacher's contract not being renewed. When teachers indicate that they want to get out of the NEA they are greeted with more of a run around than one gets when they try to discontinue service with a cell phone company! When new teachers are successful in removing themselves from the membership rolls of this "educational" special interest group, they lose a field of protection and recourse otherwise afforded to them through collective union membership.

In essence, the NEA has a monopoly. There is no recourse for teachers who disagree with the NEA's incredibly liberal policies other than to become unrepresented, disenfranchised. And while the organization contends they are only representing their rank and file the truth of the matter is many teachers are scared to death of voicing opinions other than those the organization embraces fearing an institutional shunning. Conservativism is looked down upon within the NEA, almost as though it were a cancer. This is reflected in their lobbying and campaign contributions.

The NEA spends in excess of $1 million each year lobbying in Washington, lobbying to the glee of the liberal left. In 2000 the NEA gave $3.1 million to political candidates including a shocking $2.8 million to Democratic candidates alone. An example of their ultra-liberal leanings is the fact that the NEA came under attack from conservatives for suggesting in NEA approved curriculum regarding the September 11th attacks that no one was to blame, despite overwhelming evidence that showed radical Islamic fundamentalists were responsible. And these are the people that say they are looking out for our children and the teachers who teach them. To be sure, it isn't about conservatives charging that they aren't being patriotic, it is about them embracing multicultural political correctness over the well being of our own country, our own children.

The NEA is so far to the left that even the Flat Earth Society is afraid to approach them for fear of falling off the edge of the earth. But their "Godfather", Reg Weaver, called Paige's comments "pathetic" and "not a laughing matter." He went on to say, "We are the teachers, there is no distinction" between the educators of the classroom, the Washington-based lobbyists that represent the teacher's union and the union itself. This is a curious statement from a man who heads an organization that literally forces new teachers to accept their positions regardless of their feelings on the issues.

The NEA has positions on abortion, the death penalty, gay marriage and uses money collected in dues to fund the campaigns of those who agree with their stances on these issues. If someone can tell me how representing the best interests of our teachers means that a political stance has to be taken on issues that have nothing to do with education I would be game to listen. The fact is this organization is extorting money through the guise of "union dues" relating to representation and using it to fund a political agenda that seldom has anything to do with education.

The fact that they accuse the Bush Administration of being totalitarian, exactly what they do to their own rank and file, should come as no surprise. Weaver was quoted in response to Paige's comments as saying, "this is the kind of rhetoric we have come to expect from this administration whenever one challenges its world view." Interesting rhetoric from the president of a union that champions multiculturalism and internationalization over a positive curriculum in American history and civic education. Ah, but that's what liberals do when they are doing something evil; they blame the other side for doing exactly what they are doing.

So, Rod Paige may have used some inappropriate words to paint a picture of the NEA but in my opinion they may not have been strong enough. If we want to see accountability in education, rising test scores and smarter graduates the first step is to get the NEA out of the classrooms, schools and the educational institutions all together. Of course this will never happen so I will be happy with the creation of an alternative and legitimate teachers union that doesn't double as "thought police" to those with opposing views, an alternative for those who do not believe in the NEA's destructive, uncooperative, liberal agenda.

A final note: Despite getting an enormous $26.5 billion boost in new education spending from the Republican Congress as part of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" law, the NEA still contends it has "no new money ... for public education and struggling schools." This is the kind of truth they are shopping in Washington. Imagine what they are teaching our kids!

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Frank Salvato is a political media consultant, an editor for The Washington Dispatch and the managing editor for TheRant.us. He is a contributing writer to OpinionEditorials.com, and AmericanDaily.com and his pieces are regularly featured in Townhall.com. He has appeared as a guest on The O'Reilly Factor, The Kevin Matthews Radio Show (Chicago) and The Brad Messer Radio Show (San Antonio). His pieces have been recognized by the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention and are occasionally featured in The Washington Times and The London Morning Paper as well as other national and international publications. He can be contacted at oped@therant.us.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.