WTF part 2

I’m all for freedom of expression and freedom of association, but shouldn’t a teacher union stay out of hot button issues like abortion when they may have to present a balanced view of abortion in a classroom. I don’t know, it just seems like a silly thing for a teacher union to get involved in, and it rubs me the wrong way.

Teachers’ Union Weighs In on Abortion

Friday, April 23, 2004

WASHINGTON¬ ‚Äî¬ The¬ National Education Association, a 2.7 million member teachers’ union, is a co-sponsor for the pro-abortion rights¬ March for Women’s Lives,¬ angering pro-life educators who say the NEA should stay out of the abortion debate.¬

“I believe the NEA needs to stick to education issues only — in their resolutions, in their decisions, etc.,¬ in what they do as an organization,¬ and completely get out of political issues, including this one here, regarding the woman’s right to choose, the abortion issue, the sanctity of life,” said Connie Bancroft, a member of the pro-life group¬ Teachers Saving Children (search).

While organizers told a news conference this week that the march supports a variety of women’s health issues, the focus was clearly on defeating efforts to limit abortion rights.

The NEA declined an on-camera interview, but said in a statement: “The NEA supports current law. It believes in freedom of choice¬ — for or against abortion. There should be no government limits.”

That said, NEA’s Washington office will be available to members during the event, but a spokesman insists it is not an official hospitality site nor is the national office paying to bus in participants.

In the meantime, the NEA has claimed that a¬ coordinated effort is under way to distort their role in the march this weekend.

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  • Chelle

    Nothing new with this one. NEA lobbies for lots of things that have nothing to do with education.

  • Kevin

    When I was younger, I mistakenly thought those people who chose to “Home School” thier children were fringe lunatics or at the very least eccentric. I stand corrected.
    And after a few more press releases/stories like these I think that regional and national teachers unions and organizations will have convinced the average parent to seriously look into the concept.

  • Chelle

    Kevin (or anyone who wants to know about the NEA’s activities), you might find EagleForum.org and it’s reports by it’s founder, Phyllis Schlafly, quite interesting. Keep in mind she’s a member of the far religious right (Catholic at that) but she has been keeping tabs on the NEA for a good many years. So if you follow the link keep in mind it’s going to be one of those “Take what you want/need and leave the rest,” situations.

  • http://nonannystate.blogspot.com The Other Mike S.

    Personally, I’m Pro-Choice, but this is way out of line. A teacher’s union has no business whatsoever getting involved with non-educational issues.

    If the individual teachers want to participate, obviously, go to it. But if I were a dues paying member, I’d be pissed off my dues were being spend on something that wasn’t promoting my profession or making me more money.

  • Kevin

    Chelle, thanks for the link. I guess I just THOUGHT I was opinionated. Looks like that ol gal has everything but “paper or plastic” covered.

  • balbulican

    Once any organization forgets their real mandate, weirdness happens.

  • http://greenbaron.blogspot.com Green Baron

    Chelle> I’d have never guessed that Phyllis Shclafly was Catholic, especially being from South Carolina, which are mostly teeming with fundies and not overly blessed with Catholics.

    I can understand why Catholics would have more of a vested interest in activities of publci school teachers, as my mother moved to suburban DC in the 50s to an area that was predmonately Baptist and looekd oddly upon a red-headed Irish Catholic from NYC (thankfully there weren’t any Orange Order or such hate groups in that place), and thought it as anathema that she prayed a shorter version of the Our Father.

    Schlafly impresses me from her accomplishments, but I do see her as too far to the right for my tastes.

    Kevin> Homeschooling’s only drawback involves socialization, but if the aprenst can make homeschool communities, they woudl eventually replace public schools and evolve into burecracy-free education and a number of parenst could specialze in certain subjects to teach the group of kids better.

  • Roosterman

    I am not so sure this isn’t an appropriate area for the NEA to be involved. Just think about it. The NEA and teacher unions in general have been advocating smaller class sizes. What better way to limit class size than by killing the babies before they get to class.

  • http://wild-heart.net Chelle

    Nothing new with this one. NEA lobbies for lots of things that have nothing to do with education.

  • Kevin

    When I was younger, I mistakenly thought those people who chose to “Home School” thier children were fringe lunatics or at the very least eccentric. I stand corrected.
    And after a few more press releases/stories like these I think that regional and national teachers unions and organizations will have convinced the average parent to seriously look into the concept.

  • http://wild-heart.net Chelle

    Kevin (or anyone who wants to know about the NEA’s activities), you might find EagleForum.org and it’s reports by it’s founder, Phyllis Schlafly, quite interesting. Keep in mind she’s a member of the far religious right (Catholic at that) but she has been keeping tabs on the NEA for a good many years. So if you follow the link keep in mind it’s going to be one of those “Take what you want/need and leave the rest,” situations.

  • http://nonannystate.blogspot.com/ The Other Mike S.

    Personally, I’m Pro-Choice, but this is way out of line. A teacher’s union has no business whatsoever getting involved with non-educational issues.

    If the individual teachers want to participate, obviously, go to it. But if I were a dues paying member, I’d be pissed off my dues were being spend on something that wasn’t promoting my profession or making me more money.

  • Kevin

    Chelle, thanks for the link. I guess I just THOUGHT I was opinionated. Looks like that ol gal has everything but “paper or plastic” covered.

  • balbulican

    Once any organization forgets their real mandate, weirdness happens.

  • http://greenbaron.blogspot.com/ Green Baron

    Chelle> I’d have never guessed that Phyllis Shclafly was Catholic, especially being from South Carolina, which are mostly teeming with fundies and not overly blessed with Catholics.

    I can understand why Catholics would have more of a vested interest in activities of publci school teachers, as my mother moved to suburban DC in the 50s to an area that was predmonately Baptist and looekd oddly upon a red-headed Irish Catholic from NYC (thankfully there weren’t any Orange Order or such hate groups in that place), and thought it as anathema that she prayed a shorter version of the Our Father.

    Schlafly impresses me from her accomplishments, but I do see her as too far to the right for my tastes.

    Kevin> Homeschooling’s only drawback involves socialization, but if the aprenst can make homeschool communities, they woudl eventually replace public schools and evolve into burecracy-free education and a number of parenst could specialze in certain subjects to teach the group of kids better.

  • Roosterman

    I am not so sure this isn’t an appropriate area for the NEA to be involved. Just think about it. The NEA and teacher unions in general have been advocating smaller class sizes. What better way to limit class size than by killing the babies before they get to class.