NEA Gears Up to Elect
Democrats
By
Phyllis Schlafly
 |
Tropical
Storm Bill roared into |
|
Another significant minority was rebuffed when
it urged NEA delegates to "stick to education issues and not promote
abortion." The majority remained adamant in retaining the NEA's
pro-abortion position, rejecting all pleas to be consistent with other
NEA resolutions calling for tolerance, diversity, and respect for religious
views of all peoples. For many years, NEA resolutions have endorsed "early
childhood education programs in the public schools for children from
birth through age eight," specifically including "diversity-based
curricula," and "bias-free screening devices." The NEA
has repeatedly resolved that "kindergarten attendance should be
mandatory" and "full-day," and the NEA now plans to provide
model legislation and "legal, technical, and other support services"
to help state legislatures enact such legislation. What's new this year is that the NEA delegates
resolved to make an all-out push for the establishment "in every
state" of two years of "universal," taxpayer-funded,
"full-day -- as opposed to half-day" pre-kindergarten "for
all three- and four-year-old children." The NEA claims this is
the fulfillment of the national education goal that "all children
in The pre-kindergarten demand is based on the NEA's
false assumption that "there is no longer any serious doubt about
the value of pre-kindergarten." In fact, what there is no longer
any serious doubt about (as shown by the authoritative study just released
by the National Institutes of Health) is that the more hours children
spend in daycare, a.k.a. pre-kindergarten, the higher the incidence
and severity of problem behaviors, such as disobedience, over-aggressiveness,
and stress. The NEA's pettiness and vindictiveness against
homeschoolers was manifested by the contentious debate on Resolution
B-69 which originally read: "The Association also believes that
unfunded home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular
activities in the public schools." The word "unfunded"
got into the proposed resolution because a handful of public schools
provide funding for homeschoolers to participate in after-school activities.
NEA delegates voted to delete the word "unfunded" because
they oppose allowing homeschoolers, funded or unfunded, to associate
with public school students who are "with us all day." Two years ago, the NEA received damaging national
publicity when word leaked out that the convention was going to adopt
an in-your-face resolution demanding that the gay rights agenda be incorporated
into everything from school curricula to teacher hiring. Revolt in the
ranks caused it to be withdrawn. But that was all smoke and mirrors;
that convention quietly adopted at least ten separate resolutions that
added up to the same objectives, and this year's convention re-adopted
the same resolutions. The NEA's Standing Committee on Women's Issues
demanded continuing NEA support for Title IX quota policies, the The 2003 convention proves again that the NEA is
always about co-opting more taxpayers' money, creating more jobs for
NEA members, getting tighter control over children from the earliest
possible age, and preserving the teacher’s union monopoly in the public
schools. The following are excerpts from NEA
Resolutions Passed at their 2003 Convention in B-1. Early Childhood Education. The National Education Association
supports early childhood education programs in the public schools for
children from birth through age eight. The Association also believes
that early childhood education programs should include a full continuum
of services for parents/guardians, and children, including child care,
child development, developmentally appropriate and diversity-based curricula,
special education, and appropriate bias-free screening devices. B-9. Racism, Sexism, and Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identification
Discrimination. Discrimination and stereotyping based on such factors
as race, gender, immigration status, disability, ethnicity, occupation,
and sexual orientation must be eliminated. B-31. Multicultural Education. Multicultural education should promote
the recognition of individual and group differences and similarities
in order to reduce racism, homophobia, ethnic and all other forms of
prejudice, and discrimination. B-40. Sex Education. The Association also believes that to facilitate
the realization of human potential, it is the right of every individual
to live in an environment of freely available information and knowledge
about sexuality and encourages affiliates and members to support appropriately
established sex education programs. Such programs should include information
on sexual abstinence, birth control and family planning, diversity of
culture, diversity of sexual orientation and/or gender identification,
parenting skills, prenatal care, sexually transmitted diseases, incest,
sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and homophobia. B-69. Home Schooling. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled
must meet all state requirements. Instruction should be by persons who
are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and
a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be
used. The Association also believes that home-schooled students should
not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools.
H-7. National Health Care Policy. The National Education Association
believes that affordable, comprehensive health care, including prescription
drug coverage, is the right of every resident. The Association supports
the adoption of a single-payer health care plan for all residents of
the H-11. Statehood for the I-2. International Court of Justice. The Association urges participation
by the I-12. Family Planning. The National Education Association supports
family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom. The Association
also urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family
planning clinics that will provide intensive counseling by trained personnel.
I-26. Freedom of Religion. The Association also opposes any federal
legislation or mandate that would require school districts to schedule
a moment of silence. I-39 Elimination of Discrimination. The Association is committed
to the elimination of discrimination based on race, gender, ethnicity,
religion, disability, sexual orientation and/or gender identification.
I-47. English as the Official Language. The Association believes
that efforts to legislate English as the official language disregard
cultural pluralism; deprive those in need of education, social services,
and employment; and must be challenged. I-50. Equal Opportunity for Women. The National Education Association
believes that all persons, regardless of gender, must have equal opportunity
for employment, promotion, compensation (including equal pay for comparable
worth). The Association supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution
(such as the Equal Rights Amendment) that guarantees that equality of
rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the The
above article appeared in Education Reporter, an Eagle Forum publication
which I encourage everyone to subscribe to. Phyllis Schlafly is the
founder and president of Eagle Forum. To subscribe to the Education
Reporter write to Eagle Forum, |
|