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opposing parental choice Education experts cite a study of the first eleven states that adopted charter schools in saying that "much of the opposition to the laws came from teachers' unions. In Michigan and Minnesota, NEA state affiliates intimidated and threatened universities planning to start charter schools. State affiliates announced that they would, among other things, use their power to hinder university students from teaching in the community."1 The NEA and WEA seem bent on usurping parents’ authority over the education of their children, and through various resolutions the NEA consistently takes aim at educational options that give more power and choice to parents:2
Resolution C-28 (2002) may have some admirable goals for students who are struggling with their sexual identity: "Every school district and educational institution should provide counseling services and programs that deal with high suicide and dropout rates and the high incidence of teen prostitution." But Resolution B-39 (2001) implies that "freely available information and knowledge about sexuality" is necessary "to facilitate the realization of human potential," while Resolution B-40 (2001) explains that "appropriately established sex education programs should include information on…diversity of sexual orientation…[and] homophobia." Many parents feel a deep religious conviction to decide what's "appropriate" for their own children, and would rather provide this counseling in their homes, churches, synagogues, or mosques. Resolution B-68 (2001) claims that "home schooling programs cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience." According to NEA spokeswoman Kathleen Lyons, B-68 expresses the "long-standing position of the association."4 Lyons also implies that the NEA is better equipped than parents to choose what's best for their children: "It's our feeling that public schools are the best choice for parents. What we want to do is to ensure that that truth is more than our belief - that it is a fact." The Washington Times observes that "during the past year, the NEA's Resolutions Committee has compiled more than 300 policy positions that take stands on a wide variety of contentious issues not related to education, including advocacy of homosexual and transgendered lifestyles, and criticism of capital punishment."5 The chairman of the NEA Resolutions Internal Editing Committee, Shirley Cherry, defends the NEA practice of taking positions on issues that are better left to personal conviction: "As educators, everything is related to our children, and we have to look out for the best interests of our children, students and educators."6 While this certainly is a worthy goal, should it be pursued at the expense of parental choice and personal conviction? Representatives of the Marysville Education Association (MEA) certainly believe schools should have more say in where, how, and when children are educated. Responding to an injunction brought against the union and district by strike-weary parents in October 2003, union attorney Mitch Cogdill said: “The parents have absolutely no standing to bring this lawsuit.” They “are not real parties in interest to any dispute between the Marysville School District and the Marysville Education Association.”7 The NEA Task Force on Sexual Oriencation advises that the NEA "should continue -- and expand -- its efforts to provide students, education employees, and the general public with accurate, objective, and up-to-date information regarding the needs of, and problems confronting, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students in their schools, their homes, and society in general."8 The real problem is that the NEA believes it should be the final authority on defining "accurate" and "objective." A number of faiths require that parents maintain primary responsibility for educating their children about certain issues. Many in the Christian church believe that Proverbs 22:6 commands parents to “train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it,” while Deuteronomy 6:5-7 declares: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”9 For some who believe in the Bible, these are marching orders, not suggestions. Many people of faith are compelled to honor commands like these because they -- not the NEA -- will be held accountable to them. 1 Dick Carpenter, Travis Pardo & Charlene Haar, Education's
Iron Triangle: Uncovering the Values and Beliefs of the NEA, AFT, and PTA,
2002 (regarding Joe Nathan, Charter Schools: Creating Hope and Opportunity
for American Education, 1996, 93-109). |