If you’re considering a career in teaching, you might be wondering why the National Education Association exists. The NEA is the largest labor organization dealing with public education. Members include public school teachers, support personnel, faculty and staff of colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students who are preparing to be teachers. If you’re not sure what the NEA is, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that they support critical race theory and standards-driven professional development.
NEA is the oldest and largest U.S. organization dealing with public education
The National Education Association was founded in 1857 by 100 educators. The organization was initially called the National Teachers Association. There were several professional associations dealing with public education on the state level at the time. However, education wasn’t a primary need in American life. Today, the NEA represents nearly 2.95 million members. The organization’s headquarters is located in Washington, D.C.
The NEA has a long history of issue advocacy and has successfully lobbied Congress for many favorable measures to improve education. They are instrumental in the passage of the Morrill Act, which created public state universities and land-grant colleges. The NEA is also a major player in elections, having influenced the establishment of the first Department of Education. In this capacity, the organization sought to collect data on how to build a public school system in every state. It was a successful lobbying effort, and a member died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion.
It advocates standards-driven professional development
In 1998, the National Education Association (NEA) voted on the three areas it would prioritize for work during the 2000 budget year. Staff departments in the NEA then put together three main priorities:
The National Education Association, a union for teachers, has more than 2.6 million members and affiliates in all 50 states. In addition to being a strong advocate for education, the NEA also works to protect teachers’ academic freedom. NEA state affiliates are active nationwide in a variety of activities, including lobbying and education-related issues. The association’s members are largely educators, including retired educators, students pursuing education degrees, and educators in all areas of education.
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It opposes charter schools
The Michigan State Education Association, or MSEA, is opposed to charter schools, arguing that they don’t serve all students well and funnel funding to private school financiers. Charter schools, on the other hand, are non-union, and therefore challenge the teacher’s union’s stranglehold on education. So what’s the problem? The main issue is the amount of money that charter schools will receive from parents.
In a recent debate between Democratic presidential candidates, the NEA’s Representative Assembly considered a motion to only endorse presidential candidates who oppose the expansion of charter schools. Ultimately, the resolution was defeated, but it did leave the door open to an endorsement of a Democrat who is more likely to find common ground with charters. Nevertheless, the NEA will have to reconsider its position on charters in order to be effective in this fight.
It supports critical race theory
The National Education Association recently passed a statement supporting Critical Race Theory. The statement encourages teachers to teach students about structural racism and how it affects children. It also calls for banning voter ID requirements. The statement lays the groundwork for further harmful neo-Marxist policies. Education Association President Randi Weingarten is not alone in her support for such measures. Many parents are also catching on to the fact that critical race theory is ideological poison.
While the National Education Association (NEA) represents about 3 million public school workers in all 50 states, with a $350 million annual budget and 14,000 members in local communities, it has publicly supported the integration of CRT. The NEA has also attacked conservative groups that oppose CRT indoctrination in schools. The NEA has made CRT its top priority, and has repeatedly attacked conservative groups. These groups have the power to force their ideological agenda onto our children.