Education Experts Identify Union Roadblocks to
Excellence in Teaching
Washington, DC (May 5) - Education Policy Institute
President Charlene K. Haar will join several other education
experts at "How the NEA and AFT Hinder Excellence in
Teaching," a press conference Thursday, May 6, at 1 p.m. in
the Morrow Room at the National Press Building.
"As we recognize teachers during Teacher Appreciation
Week, we cannot ignore the fact that teachers striving for
excellence in their classrooms are clearly hindered by
dozens of restrictions imposed by the National Education
Association and the American Federation of Teachers," Haar
said.
Highlighting how restrictive contract provisions are
detrimental to teachers and students, David Kirkpatrick,
former president of the Pennsylvania State Education
Association, will identify past teacher union practices such
as laying off the Teacher of the Year and replacing him with
a more senior teacher.
The NEA and AFT additionally undermine their own members
through political activities that overwhelmingly benefit
Democrats, despite the fact that nearly one-third of the
members identify themselves as Republicans.
The NEA and AFT spend enormous amounts of member dues to
support other liberal organizations, such as the NEA's
$485,000 "donation" in the last five years to People for the
American Way. PAW opposes many reforms which could empower
teachers, benefit students and improve educational
opportunities.
Despite their rhetoric to the contrary, not one NEA/AFT
policy is based on the idea that parents have a unique
interest in school affairs. Virginia Walden, a parent
training activist, will point out that the two teacher
unions agree that volunteers (who are mainly parents), must
never be utilized in ways that reduce union employees or
union work.
A number of experts have studied solutions to these
problems and George W. Liebmann, noted author, lecturer, and
attorney will identify several solutions including how
boards can achieve greater management sophistication through
model contracts and new types of schools.
"Despite egregious contract provisions, unsavory
political activities, and anti-parental involvement policies
of the NEA and AFT, our nation is blessed with a wonderfully
dedicated teaching force. But it cannot reach its finest
hour when more than 70 percent of public school teachers are
working pursuant to restrictive teacher union contracts,"
said Congressman TomTancredo, press conference emcee.
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