NEA teachers, outraged at their union's support for the designation of a "Lesbian and Gay History Month" (Resolution B-9) as celebrated last October, are resigning their membership in America's largest teacher's union. Those scrambling to leave the NEA don't have to look far for affiliation with a professional education association.
Fortunately, non-union teacher organizations exist in each of the 50 states for educators who prefer membership in an organization where values can be found that more closely echo those of their own.
While values and philosophy are significant, through its own findings, the NEA liability insurance package lures teachers into union membership. Once in the union, worry about lawsuits and the threat of legal action keep many teachers buying back into the union. Annual unified dues paid to the local, state and national organization often exceed $600 -- but include "free" liability insurance.
Just as teachers have the right to choose whether to join the labor union at their workplace, teachers who are members of the NEA or the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have the right to resign. Resignation may not be a simple process. However, free legal assistance for this is available from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation (1-800-336-3600).
In contrast to the NEA and AFT, the Coalition of Independent Education Associations (CIEA) emphasizes professional development and places a top priority on providing children the best possible education. (As trade unions, the top priority of the NEA/AFT is to improve the terms and conditions of employment for teachers.) These 19 state independent teacher organizations recruit members for more than insurance coverage, although CIEA member benefits are similar to benefits offered through the unions for a fraction of the cost of union dues. In some instances, for less than $100 per year, a teacher can have CIEA membership privileges as well as $1,000,000 liability insurance coverage.
Already in three states, Texas, Missouri, and Georgia, the non-union independent association is larger than the state NEA affiliate. The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) has increased its membership by over 5,000 for each of the past three years and now exceeds 70,000 members. Beth Graham, now chairman of CIEA and former ATPE president said, "Membership is currently well above where it was last year. Although it's impossible to pinpoint exactly why, the NEA resolution designating a gay and lesbian history month may be a factor in the unprecedented growth for ATPE and other CIEA professional education associations."
A new national organization within the CIEA is the Association of American Educators. AAE has registered significant membership increases in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Ohio and Kentucky in the past few months and has doubled its membership nationwide. According to Gary Beckner, AAE Executive Director, their goal is to have 200,000 members by 2000, one tenth the membership of the NEA.
More and more Christian educators and parents are responding to the mission of Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) which serves public and private schools. Membership includes a variety of insurance options as well as national and regional conventions, publications and support from fellow Christian educators. Not surprisingly, Christian educators endorse the accurate presentation of historical Judeo-Christian influences on society and a return to excellence in public education. CEAI is organized in every state and, in some states, includes local chapters. Pronounced increased membership has recently occurred in several southern states and CEAI officials confirm that NEA Resolution B-9 is the "last straw" for many union members who would rather switch than defend union positions on social issues.
For additional information on alternative education associations:
CIEA, Rt. 9, Box 566 Gg, Longview, TX 75601-9809
AAE, is located in Orange County, California, 1-800-704-7799
CEAI, P.O. Box 41300, Pasadena, CA 91114, 1-888-798-1124
