Education Reform Briefs

From the Education Intelligence Agency, 12/29/97

Another Big Name Magazine Hard On Teacher Unions

Says Mike Antonucci, "Looks as though NEA will need to gin up another 'Strategic Association Response to Extremism.' No sooner was NEA President Bob Chase's response to a critical article printed in Redbook, when that other purveyor of anti-public education propaganda -- Good Housekeeping -- published 'When Teacher Gets an F' in its January 1998 issue. The article includes a sidebar entitled 'What Parents Can Do,' which includes the phone number of the Center for Education Reform because, as the article says, 'A lone parent can hardly buck the power of the teachers' unions.'"

From the U.S. Department of Education, 12/17/97

Dropout Rate Stable Over Last Decade

"The dropout rate is holding at around five percent," said U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley. "This means that some 500,000 young people are still short-changing their lives and dropping out."

According to a new report, Hispanics continue to drop out at higher rates than other groups. In 1996, nine percent of Hispanics left school before completing a high school program, compared to 6.7 percent for blacks and 4.1 percent for whites.

From the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, 12/31/97

Class Action Settlement in CTA Resignation Case

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, "A federal judge in San Diego this week [Dec. 24] made it easier for public school teachers to resign from their labor union is they object to the organization's politics.

As part of a settlement signed in U.S. District Court, faculty labor unions statewide will be instructed to allow members to quit. All teachers, however, must continue to pay for collective bargaining activities."

Jean Apple, litigant of the suit from which this case arose, and others wishing to resign "cannot be required to foot the bill for political activities. An estimated 30 percent of a teacher's dues goes to supporting candidates and other political work."

From the Electronic Educational Excellence Network, 12/22/97

Another New Charter School Proposed for D.C.

Dr. Eugene Williams of Comptex Associates, Inc. sent this message to EEEN. "Have you heard of the Washington Math Science Technology High School? Dr. Mary H. Johnson, currently the director of the Ballou Math Science Technology Academy, the Apple Seed Institute, and The Potential National Merit Scholars Program have submitted a proposal that has received provisional approval. This effort to establish this high school in D.C. is historic and will do a lot for the entire school system in regards to math, science, and technology. Dr. Johnson and the Apple Tree Institute can be contacted at (202) 775-5826.

From the Associated Press/Las Vegas Sun, 12/28/97

National Board Picks Top Teachers

About 900 teachers have been recognized by a national board that receives millions of dollars in federal aid.

"If President Clinton has his way, the number of teachers certified by the nonpartisan National Board for Professional Teaching Standards would multiply more than 100 times by the year 2006. That is at least one for every school, but a fraction of the nation's 2.6 million public school teachers..."

"The idea of uniform standards for all American teachers has caused little controversy. But critics say the plan should undergo more scrutiny in light of the cost -- about $38,000 in federal funds per teacher so far, not to mention private foundation and business support."

From the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, 12/16/97

WA State's Approach to Mandatory Union Dues Question

In testimony at a field hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, EFF President Bob Williams stated, "The Evergreen Freedom Foundation has found itself at the center of this storm. Our state was the first to adopt "paycheck protection" legislation in 1992, via a state initiative. More than 70 percent of the voters agreed that a union member's mandatory union dues should not be spent on politics unless prior, written consent was obtained. Nonetheless, an investigation by our Foundation revealed that the Washington Education Association, the state affiliate of the most powerful union in the country, knowingly undermined our citizens right to free and fair elections...

Washington state Attorney General, Christine Gregoire has charged the Washington Education Association with "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in campaign finance violations. The suit also contends the union "improperly financed" opposition to school choice and charter school initiatives and contends the union has "severely frustrated the public's right to know" who is financing political campaigns."