Every time you look at a teacher, remember this NEA
Bob Chanin, retiring NEA General Counsel, spoke at the NEA's annual meeting in July. He had quite some words, I'd say, for the real purpose of the NEA. Knowing me and knowing the 'Grok, you know where this is going, don't you?
Chanin makes unmistakably clear what the highest priority is for the union. Hint: It's not the education of your kids.Well, that makes it clear - the "apple for the school marm" mystique is gone for me (heh!). Here, someone who served for DECADES finally tells the truth: it is about the union and NOT about the kids. Teaching is not the highest calling, only power.
Chanin closed his nearly 25-minute speech by explaining the influence of the NEA:Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power.
And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year, because they believe that we are the unions that can most effectively represent them, the unions that can protect their rights and advance their interests as education employees.
Their interests - the union's interests, which may or may not be aligned with teachers and may well not be aligned with what parents desire for there kids.
Remember folks, this is not me just blithering - this is a major player in the NEA hierarchy.
Oh, it gets more interesting.This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, improving teacher quality and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary. These are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay.Too high a price to pay for educated children. Chanin got wild applause from thousands of NEA members at the San Diego Convention Centerfor his remarks.
(H/T: Chicago Tribune)
