Education or Politics
In case you had any doubt, the NEA is a political, not an educational, organization. CQ points out that the latest agenda of the NEA doesn’t have much to do with education:
The Priorities Of The National Education Association
The NEA published its agenda for its July 7th Assembly, listing all the new action items under consideration and the action taken on each. How long does one have to read down the list before the NEA actually addresses an issue having directly to do with educating students? The first item? Third? Fifth? How about … fifteenth?
Above education are social security privatization, anniversary proceedings, racial political correctness, air quality and so forth. Here’s a quick look at their mission statement:
To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.
Now, notice in the mission statement there is very little about children. The closest is “cause of quality public education”. Not finding the best ways to education our children, though. Not supporting vouchers or home school or private education or other alternatives. Their position is that public education is the only way to educate children.
I went to public and private schools, and the difference was very clear: private schools expect more from their students and they get it. In public schools, classes like the AP classes that expect more also get better results. If the NEA were serious about educating children, they would demand that all ways that assist learning be supported, not just the least common denominator public system. Their annual agenda shows they are more concerned with their political agenda and supporting the minimalist approach, rather than real education.
