ma23peas Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 A friend passed the following article to me this morning, I have been in support of the Tim Tebow bill here in Alabama (Tim Tebow was allowed to play high school football as a homeschooled student..and I believe Florida has that bill that allows other sports/band etc. to be available to hs students..please verify those of you from the Orange State!)...how many of you would actively support these kinds of bills and if you don't have that option in your state, how many of you are working to create homeschool opportunities like organized sports/bands and how is it going for you? The NEA Spells Out Its Policies July 30, 2008 by Phyllis Schlafly The nation's largest teachers union, the National Education Association (NEA), attracted 9,000 delegates to its annual convention in Washington, DC over the Fourth of July weekend. Delegates sported buttons with provocative slogans such as "Gay marriage causes Global Warming only because we are so hot!", "Hate is not a family value," "The 'Christian Right' is neither," and "Gay Rights are civil rights." The delegates passed dozens of hard-hitting resolutions which now become the NEA's official policy. The resolutions authorize NEA members and employees to lobby for those goals in the halls of Congress and state capitols. NEA resolutions cover the waterfront of all sorts of political issues that have nothing to do with improving education for schoolchildren, such as supporting statehood for the District of Columbia, a "single-payer health care plan" (i.e., government-run), gun control, ratification of the International Criminal Court Treaty, and taking steps "to change activities that contribute to global climate change." The NEA fiercely opposes any competition for public schools, such as vouchers, tuition tax credits, parental option plans, or public support of any kind to non-public schools. The NEA strongly opposes designating English as our official language (even though this is supported by more than 80 percent of Americans). The NEA opposes homeschooling unless kids are taught by state-licensed teachers using a state-approved curriculum. The NEA wants to bar homeschooled students from participating in any extracurricular activities in public schools (even though their parents pay school taxes, too). The NEA wants many additional (job-creating) services and programs to be provided by public schools such as early childhood education (i.e., baby-sitting for pre-schoolers). NEA resolutions call for "programs in the public schools for children from birth through age eight," and for "mandatory kindergarten with compulsory attendance." NEA resolutions include all the major feminist goals such as "the right to reproductive freedom" (i.e., abortion on demand); "comparable worth" (i.e., government control of wages according to feminist ideology rather than the free market); full funding for the feminist boondoggle called the Women's Educational Equity Act; and "the use of non-sexist language" (i.e., censoring out all masculine words such as husband and father). The NEA even urges its affiliates to work for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA was declared dead by the U.S. Supreme Court 26 years ago. The influence of the gay lobby is pervasive in dozens of NEA resolutions adopted by 2008 convention delegates. Diversity is the code word used for pro-gay indoctrination in the classroom. The NEA's Diversity resolution makes clear that this means teaching about "sexual orientation" and "gender identification," words that are repeated in dozens of resolutions. The NEA demands that "diversity-based curricula" even be imposed on preschoolers. NEA convention delegates were invited to an Open Hearing by the SOGI Committee in Room 149A on July 1. In case you don't know, SOGI stands for Sexual Orientation Gender Identification. The NEA urges its members to offer "diverse role models" by the "hiring and promotion of diverse education employees in our public schools." The NEA puts "domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriage" on an equal footing. The NEA wants every child (i.e., regardless of age) to have "direct and confidential access (i.e., without notification to parents) to comprehensive health (i.e., including learning how to use condoms for premarital sex), social, and psychological programs and services." The NEA wants public schools to take over the physical and mental care of students through school clinics that provide services, diagnosis, treatment, family-planning counseling, and access to birth control methods "with instruction in their use." Family planning clinics are called on to "provide intensive counseling." The NEA wants all sex education courses, textbooks, curricula, instructional materials and activities to include indoctrination about sexual orientation and gender identification plus warnings about homophobia. The NEA is very generous with taxpayers' money spent on illegal aliens. The NEA not only favors amnesty for illegal alien students, but also in-state college tuition and financial aid to illegal alien college students. The NEA is strong for "multicultural education," which the resolution makes clear does not mean studying facts about different countries and cultures. It means "the process of incorporating the values" and influencing "behavior" toward the NEA's version of "the common good," such as "reducing homophobia." Of course, the NEA supports "global education" to teach "interdependency in sharing the world's resources." It's also no surprise that the NEA adamantly opposes any requirement that schools "schedule a moment of silence." Will parents be silent about the radical goals of their children's teachers? NOTE: A full report on the radical resolutions adopted by the 2008 Convention will be published in the August 2008 Education Reporter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I wish we did have access to sports and choral/band/drama experiences. I'm not sure how the article you quote has much to do with what actually happens in the high school sports/activities arena. I don't support the NEA. Even when I was a teacher at brick and mortar school, I didn't join. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ma23peas Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 When I read the article, the line about The NEA wants to bar homeschooled students from participating in any extracurricular activities in public schools (even though their parents pay school taxes, too).... That's what I was referring to, the article itself also pointed to the NEA supporting only licensed teachers to homeschool...not meaning to start a discussion on the NEA, but their agenda can have a great influence on our children. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 because our state legislature is ran by the teacher union lobbies. The Alabama's teacher union has a strong hold in our democratic controlled legislature. I don't know how much control the NEA has in other states but they also have a strong lobby on the federal level. They want totally control of the kids. They lobby for stuff that has nothing to do with education and is more of a social lobby for liberal rights and indoctrination. I feel like as a tax payer we should be able to use any resource in the school system we want but it's not going to happen in this Alabama as long as the current legislature still has control. Senator Irwinn is very pro home school and keeps trying and of course the Democratic legislature blocks. I want debate the NEA except to say it has nothing to do with whats better for the students. The organization is about money and liberal social reform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Oh, duh, now I see! I know NEA is a strong lobby. I agree with a few things, but most of their agenda is not in my worldview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I feel rather weird reading this article. I really DO NOT like the NEA. It could be because I was forced to join as a new teacher. So, please understand that I am coming from the "anti-NEA", pro-homeschooler, conservative side. However, I find this article to be....................inflated. The choices of words, turns of phrases...........I felt really manipulated after reading it. And even if I agree with some of what it says, because it is written in such a sensational way, I have a hard time trusting the content. Delegates sported buttons with provocative slogans such as "Gay marriage causes Global Warming only because we are so hot!", "Hate is not a family value," "The 'Christian Right' is neither," and "Gay Rights are civil rights." First, as a former teacher, I did not know anyone who would have worn one of these buttons.:confused:But, I suppose the ultimate question is if you want these folks teaching homeschool children football, orchestra or choir.:D:D Wait! I was one of those folks! Sort of.....:001_huh: The influence of the gay lobby is pervasive in dozens of NEA resolutions adopted by 2008 convention delegates. Diversity is the code word used for pro-gay indoctrination in the classroom. I didn't know about the diversity code word. I thought it meant people from all walks of life, color, religion etc. etc. I think that saying there are code words implies the NEA is secretive. From everything else in this article, it is pretty safe to assume that they say what they mean.:lol: The NEA wants every child (i.e., regardless of age) to have "direct and confidential access (i.e., without notification to parents) to comprehensive health (i.e., including learning how to use condoms for premarital sex), social, and psychological programs and services." I feel sad that the s*x component is paired with the psychological component. Because while many many of us might have a problem with one, far fewer would have a problem with the other. So, it takes a good thing and for some makes it bad. The NEA wants all sex education courses, textbooks, curricula, instructional materials and activities to include indoctrination about sexual orientation and gender identification plus warnings about homophobia. Indoctrination is such a charged word, isn't it? The NEA is strong for "multicultural education," which the resolution makes clear does not mean studying facts about different countries and cultures. It means "the process of incorporating the values" and influencing "behavior" toward the NEA's version of "the common good," such as "reducing homophobia." I didn't know that alternate lifestyle was also a different culture. Will parents be silent about the radical goals of their children's teachers? Well, the NEA never represented ME, even if some of my paycheck went to them. It is interesting that at the very end of the article, the author chose to personalize the controversial actions to our children's teachers rather than the big organization of the NEA. I do not like inflated articles from either side of the political aisle. I do not like 95% of what the NEA stands for either. But, anti-NEA folks don't help their case by writing diatribes like this IMHumbleO. Take it for what it is worth-please don't be angry. I'm not upset at the message-just how it was delivered. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 :iagree::iagree: with Holly. I wonder how many actual teachers feel well-represented by the NEA. The three teachers I know here had no choice about joining the NEA. I can't imagine any one of them espousing mot of the views in that article. We DO have the right to have our kids play sports and participate in other school activities if we want here in Florida. My personal experience with our local schools, however, is that they make it extremely difficult to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourmother Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I feel rather weird reading this article. I really DO NOT like the NEA. It could be because I was forced to join as a new teacher. So, please understand that I am coming from the "anti-NEA", pro-homeschooler, conservative side. However, I find this article to be....................inflated. The choices of words, turns of phrases...........I felt really manipulated after reading it. And even if I agree with some of what it says, because it is written in such a sensational way, I have a hard time trusting the content. Well, consider the source - Phyllis Schlafly! I would never expect an objective article about the NEA from her. The funny thing is that her manipulation is so unnecessary since reading the NEA's own statements on their website is far more upsetting than anything she could ever say about them. LOL! Honestly, I support the NEA about as much as I support Schlafly. They pretty much deserve each other IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Well, consider the source - Phyllis Schlafly! I am not familiar with her. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I don't think the NEA actually represents a good portion of teachers. It's the loud ones that get heard. My father is a firefighter, and it's the same thing with their union. The union gets loud and gets heard even if no one agrees with them. I just hate it that they are using the name "Teacher" or "Firefighter" to promote their agenda, seeing as it has very little to do with their actual jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I don't want any involvement with, or privileges from, the government schools. I am forced to pay taxes, but do not wish to "cash in" on any of the "benefits" that may afford me. It sounds like a great idea to let homeschoolers participate in programs at their local tax-supported school, but that participation comes with too many strings attached, even if they aren't immediately evident. It's one of those slippery slopes, in my opinion, and I prefer to not be sliding down! Chelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle T Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I don't want any involvement with, or privileges from, the government schools. I am forced to pay taxes, but do not wish to "cash in" on any of the "benefits" that may afford me. It sounds like a great idea to let homeschoolers participate in programs at their local tax-supported school, but that participation comes with too many strings attached, even if they aren't immediately evident. It's one of those slippery slopes, in my opinion, and I prefer to not be sliding down! Chelle But I don't want to spend any time in those either, just because I'm paying for them! I have no desire to use PS facilities for anything. I don't see how my paying taxes is even relevant, as we all pay taxes for hundred of things that we personally never use or benefit from. Michelle T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I know what you mean, Michelle T. I mentioned taxes because so many people say things to me like, "Well, you pay taxes for the schools. Why won't you just look into whether Johnny can join the baseball team there?" It seems like many people look at school taxes as membership dues or something. It's much more complicated than that for me. Chelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clementine Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 My dc do participate in the school choir & band....and they love it!! It's nice for me too, since $ is getting tighter all of the time, we only pay the activity fee for the entire year and not the higher costs of individual lessons. Our school has been happy to have us there, because they get state funding for their head-count even if a student is only there for one class. If, however, it was a difficult situation w/ less than welcoming administrators and teachers, we'd just pass & do our own thing. Just my .02 :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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