zip40\doc\web\2000\04\nea.txt Focus on the Family Releases “Grading the NEA” ** the NEA agenda is one that “conflicts with many teachers’ most deeply held moral and religious beliefs, limits the ability of parents to direct their children’s education, and attacks conservative Christian groups.” ** the organization numbers about 2.5 million and takes in annual revenues of nearly $1 billion taken lightly. ** Grading the NEA, a new 34-page report by Perry L. Glanzer and Travis R. Pardo, was released this month by Focus on the Family. Subtitled “What Every Teacher Needs to Know about the National Education Association,” this report provides information specifically aimed at informing teachers about the influence and agenda of the National Education Association. The report notes that the NEA agenda is one that “conflicts with many teachers’ most deeply held moral and religious beliefs, limits the ability of parents to direct their children’s education, and attacks conservative Christian groups.” It opens with a discussion of what the NEA believes based on the NEA’s own resolutions regarding such issues as reproductive freedom, homosexuality, parental choice, and extremist groups. The report quotes well-known educator Jaime Escalante on union motives this way: “I thought the union was going to focus on how to improve our skills. But they’re more interest in politics than kids.” Escalante’s thought is fleshed out with many political statistics from the past couple of decades, but especially during the 1990s. In its discussion of the union’s political influence, the report notes that among the more than fifty left-wing groups the NEA contributes money to, “People for the American Way (PFAW) has received $654,000 from the NEA in the past decade.” Further, a plaque hanging on a conference room wall at NEA headquarters in Washington, D.C. reads, “No presidential candidate who wants to win in November ignores the National Education Association anymore.” Considering that the organization numbers about 2.5 million and takes in annual revenues of nearly $1 billion, such a statement can’t be taken lightly. Grading the NEA includes an important section concerning what teachers who oppose the union’s agenda can do about it. The first suggestion, albeit one with serious limitations, is for conservative teachers to serve as delegates to the national convention. “Examples of groups seeking to change the NEA from within include Teachers Saving Children and Union dues Accountability Committee,” report the authors. Resigning one’s union membership is another suggested alternative, although depending on the state in which one teaches and the contract under which one works, agency fees payments may still be required. The report offers additional discussion about the different state laws regarding agency-fees. “One approach that will not help is merely maintaining one’s NEA membership without becoming involved in changing the system,” notes the report. Finally, six points are suggested actions for both teachers and the general public. 1. Pray for the NEA. 2. Support school reforms and legislation that empower parents. 3. Support right-to-work legislation. 4. Support laws banning the reverse check-off system for NEA-PAC contributions. 5. Support “local-only” teacher unions. 6. Support reform of public sector collective bargaining laws. The entire Grading the NEA report is available online at http://www.family.org/gradingthenea/ * * * * * * * Quoting from the “Stossel in the Classroom” website: “ABC NEWS correspondent John Stossel's television specials are thought-provoking, entertaining, and easy to understand. By presenting historical and present-day ‘real-life’ examples and interviews, Stossel makes understanding issues that affect our everyday lives fun and relevant. “The Palmer R. Chitester (PRC) Fund produces teacher-friendly curriculum materials based on John Stossel's television specials.  Three video kits are now available: Greed, Are We Scaring Ourselves To Death?, and Freeloaders.” For further information about “Stossel in the Classroom,” visit http://www.prcfund.org/Stossel/index.html * * * * * * * As always, EPI welcomes your feedback. Email us at info@educationpolicy.org or visit us on the web at http://www.educationpolicy.org. * * * * * * * EPI Chairman Myron Lieberman’s latest book, Understanding the Teacher Union Contract: A Citizen’s Handbook (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2000) was released during the past week. Read about it (http://www.educationpolicy.org/nr032700.htm ) and review its table of contents (http://www.educationpolicy.org/UTUC-toc.htm). Then, order your copy through EPI’s online bookstore (http://www.educationpolicy.org/EPIBookstore-A1.htm). ----------- EPI’s Reform Briefs (http://www.educationpolicy.org/refrmnws.htm) are updated twice monthly. The next edition will be posted on April 3. ----------- EPI’s newest monograph in the EPI Series on Teacher Unions, written by Dr. Myron Lieberman, was released March 10. “Disassociation from the NEA” is available at no cost in hardcopy, and also on the EPI website (http://www.educationpolicy.org/EPIseries/disassociation-bklt.htm). All inquiries to EPI regarding disassociation will be kept confidential.