NEA Resolutions Show Liberal Agenda
October, 1997
by Kent Kaiser
During its July 3-6 meeting, the representative assembly of the National Education Association (NEA) adopted 1997-98 resolutions for the teachers union.
One might expect the resolutions to focus strictly on education-related issues, and to be concerned with providing the best possible education for America's children.
But in fact the resolutions cover a surprising range of topics, and give insight into the political and social agenda of this powerful and influential union. Even rank-and-file teachers whose union dues fund the NEA would probably be shocked.
Some examples:
Abortion
"The National Education Association supports family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom.
"The Association urges the government to give high priority to making available all methods of family planning to women and men unable to take advantage of private facilities.
"The Association further urges the implementation of community-operated, school-based family planning clinics that will provide intensive counseling by trained personnel."
Sex Education
"...Teachers and health professionals must be qualified to teach in this area and must be legally protected from censorship and lawsuits...
"The Association urges its affiliates and members to support appropriately established sex education programs, including information on... birth control and family planning... diversity of sexual orientation...."
Teen Parents
"...The Association recommends programs for these students that include. flexible scheduling and attendance policies. development of self-esteem. on-site child care services..."
Moment of Silence
"...The Association opposes any federal legislation or mandate that would require school districts to schedule a moment of silence..."
Gun Control
"...The Association... believes that strict prescriptive regulations are necessary for the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale and resale of handguns and ammunition magazines. The possession by the private sector of automatic weapons and military-style semiautomatic assault weapons should be illegal..."
Socialized Medicine
"The National Education Association believes that affordable, comprehensive health care is the right of every resident.
"The Association supports the adoption of a single-payer health care plan for all residents of the United States, its territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico."
Public Housing
"The National Education Association believes that all members of our society have the right to adequate housing..."
Drug Testing
"...[T]he Association believes that mandatory and/or random drug and alcohol testing of employees and job applicants is an unwarranted and unconstitutional invasion of privacy and opposes such testing."
Note: No exceptions are listed, not even for school bus drivers, industrial arts teachers, or coaches.
Tax-Funded Education for Convicts
"The National Education Association believes that incarcerated persons, regardless of gender, are entitled to equal access to educational, recreational, and rehabilitative programs within all correctional systems."
Hostility Toward Choice
"...The Association believes that closed public school buildings should be sold or leased only to those organizations that do not provide direct educational services to students and/or are not in direct competition with public schools.
"...The Association opposes the use of public revenues for private, parochial, or other nonpublic pre-K through 12 schools.
"The National Education Association believes that the following programs and practices are detrimental to public education and must be eliminated: privatization, performance contracting, tax credits for tuition to private and parochial schools, voucher plans (or funding formulas that have the same effect as vouchers), planned program budgeting systems (PPBS), and evaluations by private, profit-making groups.
"The Association believes that proposals that would allow or foster the flow of public monies to private, parochial or sectarian schools;... a selectivity in admissions; the employment of unlicensed or uncertified educators; and a weakening of collective bargaining protections. should be defeated.
"The National Education Association believes that federally or state-mandated parental option or choice plans compromise the Association's commitment to free, equitable, universal, and quality public education for every student. Therefore, the Association opposes such federally or state-mandated choice or parental option plans.
"...The Association opposes all attempts to establish and/or implement [voucher plans and tuition tax credits]."
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."
Gay Agenda
"...[P]rograms must. increase acceptance of and sensitivity to. gays and lesbians..."
Other
The 30-plus page document discusses many other topics. Other resolutions not quoted specifically here advocate a nuclear freeze, statehood for the District of Columbia, reparation of American Indian remains, and increases in Social Security spending.
Critics argue that these and other NEA resolutions have little or nothing to do with educating America's kids. According to the Alexis de Tocqueville Institute, enacting the NEA's agenda into law would cost over $700 billion - more than the cost of even the most pork-laden agenda of any individual Congressional spendthrift.
The document says very little about basic academic subjects such as reading, writing, and math. When it does speak of academics, it frequently advocates the injection of non-traditional subjects into the school curricula without advocating increased classroom time for the individual curriculum additions.
The NEA is one of the nation's most powerful unions, and it has had the perks to prove it. For instance, the NEA has had a sweetheart tax deal on its national office in Washington, D.C. that lets it avoid paying its share of taxes. Because of effective lobbying of Congress, the NEA has been able to maintain an archaic law freeing it from having to pay its $1.6 million in annual property taxes.
It is reportedly the only labor union to enjoy this status. Not even the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, the Disabled American Veterans, the American Red Cross, or Future Farmers of America enjoy the same special status that Congress has given the NEA.
In a recent development, the NEA has hired a public relations firm to help "soften" its image. One recommendation has been to give up its tax-exempt status. Time will tell if the new, softer "look" has any effect on the NEA's social and political agenda.
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