Local Control
Karen White, head of NEA’s Campaign and Elections Division, on the Palin speech Wednesday night:
As a mom of three kids and wife, I didn’t hear anything that was speaking to my values, and I was listening hard. There were some good jokes, there were some funny lines. But I was really wanting to hear how she was going to get my kids a good public education and how she was going to make the environment better for them.
I was under the impression that “getting my kids a good public education” was the responsibility of parents, teachers and principals, not that of the Vice President of the United States. But I don’t work for NEA.
September 8th, 2008 at 17:07
It is fatuous for Ms. White to bemoan the fact that Sarah Palin, in her convention speech, did not dwell on the issues related to public education. Governor Palin did point out that she began her political career as a PTA mom trying to secure a better “public” education for her children.
Her record in support of public schools is stellar. Her father is a retired public school teacher, her brother is a public school teacher, and she knows the issues involved with public education from the perspective of a public school parent.
It can only benefit public education and public school educators to have someone serving as vice-president who actually does understand these issues first hand…for a change. I have to believe that despite her statement, Ms. White knows Governor Palin’s record on public education.
As governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin secured a large increase in funding for public schools, and, even more significantly, was able to get the legislature to change the way public school are financed in a way that secures more resources for the rural schools where the resources are most needed. It is also true that she sought more funding than the legislature appropriated.
It is sad that NEA has functioned for so long as an arm of the Democratic Party (despite the bi-partisan talk)and never offered Republicans a reason to move more towards the NEA positions. (Why would Republicans do that when NEA was going to endorse Democrats regardless of what they did?)Now that Democrats like Adrian Fenty and Corey Booker are openly attacking teacher unions, it looks like the NEA and the AFT may have to actually get serious about working across the aisle.
September 8th, 2008 at 19:40
I am currently an NEA member and the immediate past President of a large urban local. What is sad is that the NEA and far too many state affiliates have forgotten about grass roots advocacy and are only interested in building membership. Ironically this obsession with membership is actually inhibiting membership.
Having said that, I do know the value of membership and its relationship to power. But as long as the NEA and its state affiliates continue to endorse issues that do not relate specifically to education, it/they will never see the kind of membership numbers they seek…at least not in those states who are located in more conservative states, specifically those of us who teach in a right to work state.
Teachers do face numerous obstacles and vicious attacks, but from my perspective, the average teacher is being used as a pawn at both the state and national level.
The HQ staff in my state endorses the philosphy that leaders are only temporary. As a sitting local President, I was told I was not association material because I dared to advocate for my members in my local at the state level.
A level of arrogance exists which also serves as an obstacle to success. Teachers do need someone to advocate for them, but, unfortunately the NEA and far too many state affiliates are their own worst enemy.