Education secretary calls NEA a terrorist organization

[cycloneye]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040223/D80T5VUO0.html

For those who may not know NEA is (NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION) the biggest teachers organization in the US.Some say it was a joke that he said that but others say he said it in a more serious way.

[rainstorm]

no one can name a single thing the dept of education ahs done to make education better. what do those employees do all day? it should be eliminated. a 100% waste of money. it was a payoff to the teachers unions by carter

[Stephanie]

Open mouth, insert foot. Needs salt. Dumb a@@!

That will really help to get people to work together.

[sunnyday]

Terrorist is not a word to throw around, and Paige was definitely out of line in his use of the word to describe the NEA. There are a number of better word choices. What was he thinking?

[Stephanie]

Terrorist is not a word to throw around, and Paige was definitely out of line in his use of the word to describe the NEA. There are a number of better word choices. What was he thinking?

Exactly - I think he needs to go back to school.

[rainstorm]

actually, they are a negative factor in improving education

[mf_dolphin]

Terrorist is not a word to throw around, and Paige was definitely out of line in his use of the word to describe the NEA. There are a number of better word choices. What was he thinking?

I agree whole heartedly Sunnyday. In this day and age the word terrorist should be left to those animals who deserve the label.

[streetsoldier]

I agree; the terms "extortionists" or "protection racket" would have been better.

[rainstorm]

the nea is a very liberal group, wedded to the far left. i think it is a concern that can indoctrinate kids in their "world view" for 8 hours a day

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION UNDER FIRE FOR TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

During a private White House meeting with the nation's governors yesterday, Secretary of Education Rod Paige referred to the National Education Association (NEA) as a "terrorist organization." According to Ed Rendell, the governor of Pennsylvania, "He was making a joke, probably not a very good one. "Of course he immediately divorced the NEA from ordinary teachers, who he said he supports."

Of course, immediately NEA President Reg Weaver jumped all over the controversy, saying that the Secretary's words were "pathetic and not a laughing matter." Also weighing in on the matter was the chairman of the DNC and idiot Terry McAuliffe. "He accused Paige of resorting "to the most vile and disgusting form of hate speech, comparing those who teach America's children to terrorists." Too bad that's not what he said, Mr. McAwful. He was talking about the obstructionist scare tactics of the NEA leadership, which has no interest in the education of any children.

Paige, the nation's first black education secretary, apologized later in the day, saying "as one who grew up on the receiving end of insensitive remarks, I should have chosen my words better." At least he only apologized for the choice of words, and didn't take it back.

I do, though, have a problem with people using the terrorist threat to further their own particular agendas ... agendas which have nothing to do with terrorism. The NEA is not truly a terrorist organization in that they do not seek to kill people for political gain. They do, however, ruin young minds for political gain .... so some sort of descriptive term is needed. We'll work on it.

Can somebody please tell me where in the United States Constitution it says anything about the federal government educating children?


the nea is also paid by taxpayers, liberal and conservative. that being the case, they have no business making political contribs to one party.

[rainstorm]

The NEA vs. Teachers
by: Malcolm A. Kline, December 08, 2003


America’s largest teachers union, the National Education Association (NEA) commands unparalleled resources, especially in elections, but its membership may be its undoing as surveys and investigations reveal how out of touch the NEA is with its members.

On gay rights, even the union itself concedes that its stances “are often a source of controversy—both internally with Association members, and externally with the media, political decision-makers, and the general public.”

“Schools cannot be neutral when we’re dealing with [homosexual] issues,” former NEA president Bob Chase said. “I’m not talking about tolerance. I’m talking about acceptance.” The Evergreen Freedom Foundation reported on Chase’s comments in its recent monograph When Values Collide: Teachers, unions and the charity option.

In the state of Washington, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF) reports, “Frieda Takamura works as a field representative for the Washington Education Association (WEA) while serving on the National Board of the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).”

“Takamura admits the WEA has provided financial assistance and resources to support the Washington chapter of GLSEN.” Based in Olympia, Washington, the EFF has gone to court to get the WEA to reveal the amount of dues money it gives to political causes and campaigns rather than the normal expenses of negotiating that labor unions incur.

The NEA attempts to promote the cause of gay rights groups through the curricula it endorses for sex education courses while the union tries to advance its position on abortion through financial support for pro-choice groups.

The NEA consistently promotes a pro-choice position on abortion. At the same time, according to the EFF, “Most teachers don’t believe it is part of the NEA’s role to have an official position on abortion.”

“An Ohio survey revealed the following: only 10 % of teachers believe their professional education association should take a position in favor of reproductive freedom; 8 % believe their association should be officially opposed to abortion; and 82 % believe their association should take no position at all on the issue.”

Teachers whose beliefs run counter to those of their union bosses have recourse, and, although, thus far, they may represent a minority of NEA members nationally, they are using every means available to opt out of the union. They can do so, the EFF shows, as religious objectors to the NEA’s policies.

“In a right-to-work state, teachers can resign union membership and pay nothing to the union,” the EFF reports. “But in forced-fee states like Washington, teachers must pay mandatory agency fees.”

“Teachers who have religious objections to union activities can redirect these fees to a charity they help choose.” In right-to-work states you don’t have to join a union to keep your job in a union shop: In forced-fee states, you do.

[Stephanie]

I agree; the terms "extortionists" or "protection racket" would have been better.

Perhaps Bill...

[j]

Well...what he said may have been wrong..BUT, that doesn't detract from the soundness of Paige's criticism of the NEA.

It's a bullying organization to which lawmakers in every state cower in fear and routinely do whatever is asked, including pumping as much money as possible into the public schools with little or no evidence that the money is doing any good.