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Do Government Monopolies Have a Child’s Best Interests at Heart?
In John Stossel’s recent report on public education, he conveys how the government school monopoly does not trust education to the free market even though the free market has made everything else in America great. Opposing teacher’s unions argue that the parents aren’t real ‘customers’ because they aren’t knowledgeable enough about education. Stossel’s report implies that if we trust public education to the teachers unions as we have before we will get more of the same–increased funding yet no results shown in improving student achievement. Teacher’s unions continue to advocate that they are ‘for’ improving education, yet some teacher’s unions are explicit in their thoughts such as one teacher’s union leader who stated, “When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”
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If You Are a Parent or Teacher, You Must See This Movie
I watched Waiting For Superman last weekend, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. The well informed movie documents public education failing in America through personal interviews, history, animations, and statistics. While poor teachers continue to hold teacher credentials and ruin children’s chances at success, quality education stands imprisoned by “the system” which is guarded by teachers unions with their own selfish interests. When someone comes along with a passion to change the system to make education better, teachers’ unions silence them. Several urban and suburban families are pictured with children who want quality education but are unable to afford it for their children . These families are hanging in suspense hoping for a chance at a slot in a charter school for a better education. Waiting For Superman leaves you thinking…if something isn’t done to reform education in America, what will happen to our nation?
Does the NEA Have Your Best Interests in Mind?
Below, I have quoted the NEA’s mission and vision statements. Their statements read that they ” are the voice of education professionals” and that they are to “advocate for education professionals.” I am confused by these statements. The NEA favorably represents liberal democratic candidates in all of their publications and doesn’t provide a balanced view to represent the “voice of education professionals.” Conservative voices and ideas are openly squelched. Educational professionals who belong to this professional organization may not be aware that their money is supporting a political agenda.
- “We, the members of the National Education Association of the United States, are the voice of education professionals. Our work is fundamental to the nation, and we accept the profound trust placed in us.
- Our vision is a great public school for every student.
- Our mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.”
If you are an educator who only belongs to this organization for the liability insurance you are provided and you are not interested in supporting a political agenda, you may purchase liability insurance from an independent provider at a much lower rate than the dues to your local chapter of the NEA. If you are wanting to withdraw your membership from the teacher’s union, I can only speak for how to get out of the union from my state of Arkansas. I am not sure if it is the same in all states. There is only a certain window of time within the summer months of June or July that you may withdraw your membership, and this is certainly not publicized. You must withdraw with a written request letter during these months.
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