When you're a teacher, you become embroiled in union issues. Even if you don't want to... it permiates everything you do. There are positives and negatives to being part of union. Shockingly most of life is like this, and always will be despite what anyone claims, hopes or promises.
A few weeks ago, the NEA had their annual meeting and several people have been upset about the agenda. Apparently, it's more political than educational. I know, it's stunning to think that any union would be involved in politics... the whole rights of the worker thing has nothing to do with the government. By the way, I have some lovely property in Arizona that will probably become beach front in about 100 years. Buy now, while the cost is low!
Ok, back to the topic at hand. Many are upset that Social Security dominated the NEA agenda. A simplistic view might be that this has nothing to do with education and shouldn't be in realm of importance to the NEA. I would be to differ. First, Social Security affects all citizens. We all pay into it and we all hope to take out of it at some point (hopefully later, rather than sooner). Social Security is supposed to the safety net for our elderly years. Recent history has shown that no one can depend on the pension plans offered by other entities and most Americans (Republican and Democrat) suck at savings. Sure the NEA could tell it's members to "Save! Save! Save!", but even they have to bow to that kind of pressure. Plus, where would Bush be if people stopped spending every dime they made? Conservatives should be thrilled that people want Social Security to remain the idiots retirement plan - it means they can buy more SUVs and actually pay for the gas! I might also point out the number of students who are being raised by their grandparents, for those who insist on an educational bent. The 2000 census reported 6 million children being raised by their grandparents. Social Security provides shelter, clothing, food and school supplies for those children.
Let's look at the Wal-Mart issue. Wal-Mart is our favorite scape-goat for America's ills. We love to hate Wal-Mart, and they make it so durned easy. Seriously, it's like shooting fish in a barrel to pick on them. But here's the key. Wal-Mart is anti-union therefore by definition, all unions should be anti-Wal-Mart. It's that simple. Unions are about solidarity. If you're in NYC and you're a member of a union, you don't go into buildings with the giant anti-union rat outside. You don't cross the auto-worker picket line in Detroit, "Look for the union label" etc. it's not about personal preference. Duh.
As for the rest of the items - Anyone who thinks air quality isn't an important issue, hasn't been forced to sit 50 minutes with a teen-ager who believes those Axe commercials and hope more will overcompensate for the inherant geekiness of the average 14 year old. Healthcare is a major concern for anyone who doesn't have a golden parachute, "political training" would fall under the worker rights category, and protesting the war would fall under the we actually care about the kids we just spent years of our lives educating so they could go to happy lives, not cannon-fodder for bored pissed-off rich guys with nothing better to do category.
Finally, why should the NEA spend it's time worrying about how teachers teach? Hasn't the President already told us? NCLB has it all taken care of, so why even bother?
A few weeks ago, the NEA had their annual meeting and several people have been upset about the agenda. Apparently, it's more political than educational. I know, it's stunning to think that any union would be involved in politics... the whole rights of the worker thing has nothing to do with the government. By the way, I have some lovely property in Arizona that will probably become beach front in about 100 years. Buy now, while the cost is low!
Ok, back to the topic at hand. Many are upset that Social Security dominated the NEA agenda. A simplistic view might be that this has nothing to do with education and shouldn't be in realm of importance to the NEA. I would be to differ. First, Social Security affects all citizens. We all pay into it and we all hope to take out of it at some point (hopefully later, rather than sooner). Social Security is supposed to the safety net for our elderly years. Recent history has shown that no one can depend on the pension plans offered by other entities and most Americans (Republican and Democrat) suck at savings. Sure the NEA could tell it's members to "Save! Save! Save!", but even they have to bow to that kind of pressure. Plus, where would Bush be if people stopped spending every dime they made? Conservatives should be thrilled that people want Social Security to remain the idiots retirement plan - it means they can buy more SUVs and actually pay for the gas! I might also point out the number of students who are being raised by their grandparents, for those who insist on an educational bent. The 2000 census reported 6 million children being raised by their grandparents. Social Security provides shelter, clothing, food and school supplies for those children.
Let's look at the Wal-Mart issue. Wal-Mart is our favorite scape-goat for America's ills. We love to hate Wal-Mart, and they make it so durned easy. Seriously, it's like shooting fish in a barrel to pick on them. But here's the key. Wal-Mart is anti-union therefore by definition, all unions should be anti-Wal-Mart. It's that simple. Unions are about solidarity. If you're in NYC and you're a member of a union, you don't go into buildings with the giant anti-union rat outside. You don't cross the auto-worker picket line in Detroit, "Look for the union label" etc. it's not about personal preference. Duh.
As for the rest of the items - Anyone who thinks air quality isn't an important issue, hasn't been forced to sit 50 minutes with a teen-ager who believes those Axe commercials and hope more will overcompensate for the inherant geekiness of the average 14 year old. Healthcare is a major concern for anyone who doesn't have a golden parachute, "political training" would fall under the worker rights category, and protesting the war would fall under the we actually care about the kids we just spent years of our lives educating so they could go to happy lives, not cannon-fodder for bored pissed-off rich guys with nothing better to do category.
Finally, why should the NEA spend it's time worrying about how teachers teach? Hasn't the President already told us? NCLB has it all taken care of, so why even bother?
Comments
I'm not all that sure a souless entity such as a corporation can be "evil"... rather the people who reward unethical/immoral practices would fall into that category. There are lots of them out there!