A Victory for a Friend of Public Education
Posted by NEA on November 4, 2008 11:48 PM
The election of 2008 was a milestone for our nation. With a groundswell of enthusiasm among youth and minorities, the American people turned out in record numbers to vote for change. The NEA helped lead the way in this historic event.
With the U.S. facing a crumbling economy and fighting two wars, Americans made history Tuesday night by electing Barack Obama. Voters also elected pro-education candidates at all levels.
As we pause to savor this moment for its historic significance, we should also consider what it means for the children of our nation.
What a Long, Strange, Important Trip It's Been
Posted by NEA on November 4, 2008 5:00 AM
But Election Day 2008 is finally here. If you're not among the tens of millions of people who have already voted, today's the day. If you need to find the route to your polling place, check out Vote 411. If you still need a bit more information on where the presidential candidates stand on the issues, check out our comparison. And don't forget to vote down ballot in crucial gubernatorial, Senate, and House races, as well as on any ballot initiatives in your state.
Here's your benchmark for tomorrow: In the 2004 presidential election between George W. Bush and John Kerry, 61 percent of eligible voters turnout out at the polls. But we can do better than that. Italy's average voter turnout is 93 percent and Australia rings in at 81 percent. So get out there!
When It's All (Soon) Over, NEA Will Have Made a Difference
Posted by NEA on November 3, 2008 3:36 PM
It's coming to a close: An unprecedented effort by NEA to mobilize its 3.2 million members to elect friends of public education at the national, state and local levels. "Watch NEA members and their families on election night if you want to know the outcome of races across the country," says NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "Our members are in every precinct, county, congressional district and state. Given our unique demographic makeup—women, rural and suburban members—we are the typical swing voter of the 2008 election." In addition to NEA's 3.2 million members, factor in their immediate family members and that audience that cares about public education grows to more than 5 million potential voters.
Sen. Barack Obama Talks to America About Education in Primetime Commercial
Posted by NEA on October 29, 2008 8:38 PM
Forget the World Series and America's Next Top Model. The program to watch tonight was Barack Obama's commercial aired simultaneously on seven networks during primetime outlining his plan for the American economy, education, energy, national security, and health care. In case you missed it, here's the piece, via Daily Kos:
Unfortunately, the story of an Albuquerque, New Mexico, teacher named Juliana Sanchez is probably all too familiar to many of you. (Her story begins around the 13:20 mark in the video.) Sanchez, who teaches at a school for low-income, special needs students, is up before the sun. And "at the end of the school day her work is only half done," says Obama in narrating the video describing the pressures on teachers earning Sanchez's salary. "Most of us who are educators, we all have second jobs," says Sanchez.
A Quick Note About Comments
Posted by NEA on October 29, 2008 8:25 PM
Just a reminder that if you use expletives or vulgarity in either the body of your comment or your login name, your comment will not be approved. Same goes for personal attacks on featured members. There's no point writing them because nobody's going to see them. Also, we appreciate your patience with the comment approval. We get to them as quickly as possible, but it may take a little while. Now, keep them clean and keep them coming!
The Real Halloween Horror: John McCain's "Free" Market School System
Posted by NEA on October 29, 2008 10:57 AM
John McCain wants to experiment with your school and apply “free market” principles to education. His education plan promises that with deregulation, we’ll all have more choices, and the free market will somehow solve all of our educational ills. But just as deregulation resulted in financial turmoil on Wall Street, deregulation in our education system will force our schools to lose critical services.
His program would take money away from your public school, and give it to private schools and organizations through vouchers. The reality, however, is that private school tuition typically exceeds the value of the vouchers, and most charter and privates schools are already filled to capacity. Your school’s funding will be further cut by McCain’s spending freeze. Experts agree that after the freeze, education will be one of the first services to lose nearly all of its funding overnight. This “free market” experiment represents a terrifying risk to our children’s futures, and through McCain’s plan:
How will Sen. McCain pay for Palin's Promises?
Posted by NEA on October 27, 2008 2:33 PM
Last Thursday, Gov. Sarah Palin stepped forward to give her first major policy speech, focusing on a topic that is very personal to her – special needs children. Palin, whose son Trig has Down Syndrome, declared that “the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are most vulnerable” and went on to call for full-funding of the Individual with Disabilities Education Act.
Early Voting Begins
Posted by NEA on October 24, 2008 3:00 PM
Election Day is still a little more than one week away, but voters in many states are already lining up to make their choice. Thirty-one states – including key battleground states like Ohio, Florida, Nevada and North Carolina - allow voters to cast their ballots to avoid the expected long lines, registration and voting machine glitches on November 4th. Three other states – Kentucky, Minnesota and Virginia - plus the District of Columbia also allow early voting but require voters to give a reason.
NEA advertorials to hit newspapers in target states
Posted by NEA on October 24, 2008 8:37 AM
Rolling billboards, phone banks, door-to-door canvassing, debate watch parties, and rallies are just a few of the tactics that NEA has deployed to help energize Association members and get out the vote for pro-education candidates and issues that will affect the lives of working Americans. And starting next week, full-page advertorials from NEA will be added to the arsenal of tactics. The advertorials will appear in targeted newspapers in nine key states across the country, including Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The first of two advertorials will appear on Tuesday, October 28, and it will focus on the importance of public education as the foundation of all the issues and programs being discussed during the 2008 election. The second one is scheduled to run on Thursday, October 30, and it will focus exclusively on getting out the vote.
Click here to see a copy of the October 28 advertorial.
Joel Packer Explains it All: Invest and Improve is Better Than Freeze and Test
Posted by NEA on October 21, 2008 9:15 PM
While the debates between Senator Obama and Senator McCain had little focus on education, tonight their education advisors Linda Darling-Hammond and Lisa Graham Keegan spent 90 minutes debating the details of education policy.
Obama’s advisor presented a comprehensive program to invest in and improve early childhood education, teacher preparation and college affordability. McCain’s advisor reiterated his positions of no new money for education, diverting teacher professional development funds to pay-by-test scores, support for standardized tests, and private school vouchers.
Darling-Hammond made a compelling case for the importance of early childhood education citing research that demonstrates the economic benefits of investing in quality early childhood education. The Obama plan calls for $10 billion to expand and improve the quality of Head Start and pre-K.
Liveblogging the Education Debate
Posted by NEA on October 21, 2008 6:56 PM
8:25 - Final question: Your choice for Secretary of Education?
Keegan says anyone Senator McCain picks is ok with her, but the real challenge for that person will be to bring down barriers. “Offending the traditional systems,” she says, will be crucial. The question is – how do we focus on kids? That must be the organizing principle.
Darling-Hammond says the secretary of education in an Obama administration will focus on new investments in education from kindergarten through grade 12 and access to a high quality higher education. “Rich people say that money doesn't matter,” she says. “I don't see them trying to give it up.”
She finishes by saying the current “two tier system “ which undermines too many American and Latino kids is unacceptable. The nation has to ensure that these students have a teacher that knows how to teach them to read, write, and master mathematics. Accomplishing this goal, Darling-Hammond says, requires a systemic investment in the quality of personnel and in the school in which they teach.
Rumble in the Blackboard Jungle
Posted by NEA on October 20, 2008 6:01 PM
The event: a debate Tuesday night focusing solely on education.
At stake are billions of public dollars, stacks of policy and legislation, and the education of 53 million public school students. Columbia University’s Teacher College is hosting this verbal joust between Linda Darling-Hammond and Lisa Graham Keegan—the top education policy advisors for Barack Obama and John McCain. These academics aren't your typical policy wonkettes. Both are on the front lines in the education battles, from vouchers to NCLB to charter schools. You name the issue, they’ve influenced it. Policies affecting the working and learning conditions of public education employees and students are directly influenced by their research, advice and advocacy positions. And one of them will likely be talking directly to the next President of the United States about his policy choices.
First, register to watch the debate by clicking here. Then on Tuesday night at 7, watch the debate while checking out our liveblog of the event. And be sure to leave your comments here on the Education Votes blog. We want to know what you think!
Gen. Colin Powell Endorses Obama, But First Endorses Focus on Education
Posted by NEA on October 19, 2008 8:03 PM
On Meet the Press this morning, Gen. Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president. But he first gave an eloquent call for a spotlight to shine on education in this campaign season:
"I think the American people and the gentlemen running for president will have to, early on, focus on education more than we have seen in the campaign so far. America has a terrible educational problem in the sense that we have too many youngsters not finishing school. A third of our kids don't finish high school, 50 percent of minorities don't finish high school. We've got to work on this, and my, my wife and I are leading a campaign with this purpose."
Watch Powell deliver his endorsement here:
Send Us Your Snaps!
Posted by NEA on October 17, 2008 11:41 AM
Heading out to campaign this weekend? Holding an election house party in the next couple weeks? Send your pictures to ckopkowski@nea.org. Don't forget to include the names of people who appear.
Here are a few taken around the country on Wednesday night at NEA- and state affiliate-sponsored debate watching parties.
In Ohio:
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel on Final Debate
Posted by NEA on October 16, 2008 5:30 PM
Sen. Barack Obama said Wednesday in the third and final presidential debate that a cornerstone of any long-term economic plan must be an investment in quality public schools. His comments—focusing on early childhood education, professional pay, and college affordability—made it strikingly clear that only his administration would prepare American students to compete in a global economy.
Obama's vision for the future of this country, and the future of the American economy, couldn't be more different than McCain's. While Obama calls for early childhood education, professional pay, college affordability, parental involvement and full funding for critical education programs, McCain calls for more of the same, including voucher schemes and rolling back teacher certification standards.
McCain's spending freeze would, as he said, be a "hatchet." But the Bush administration has been hacking away at public education spending for the last eight years, and America's public schools are struggling. In this economic crisis, we need a president who will invest in quality public schools, invest in our teachers, and invest in the future leaders of this country.
Paid for by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, www.neafund.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Are Children Less Important Than Pipe Valves, Sen. McCain?
Posted by NEA on October 16, 2008 1:08 PM
It was like a needle on the record in last night's debate. Sen. John McCain asserted that former military personnel and others should be able to enter the classroom without certification:
"We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which -- or have the certification that some are required in some states."
Education Votes commenter Meghan took exception to that. "He is insinuating that just anyone can teach!?" she asked. Fellow commenter Laura was appalled to hear the candidate belittle the education she and her colleagues received before entering the classroom.
While NEA supports the concept of Teach for America and Troops to Teachers when executed responsibly, it objects when states have loopholes that allow program participants to leave without any demonstrated skills, knowledge, competencies needed in the classroom, said Segun Eubanks, NEA's Director of Teacher Quality. Many Teach for America and Troops to Teachers participants are allowed to head into the classroom without having met reasonable licensing benchmarks, Eubanks said. "Joe the Plumber can't fix your sink without a license," he said, referring to the plumber whom McCain frequently invoked during the debate, "but McCain wants people to enter the profession of teaching without a license."
Michelle Rhee on Vouchers: Not a Solution
Posted by NEA on October 16, 2008 9:29 AM
During last night’s discussion about education, Barack Obama and John McCain bickered over the District of Columbia’s voucher plan, specifically whether DC schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee actually supports vouchers for the city's schools. McCain insisted she does, but Obama said she supported charter schools, but not vouchers. Putting aside the issue of whether the voucher program is a success (it isn’t), where does Rhee actually stand? Early this morning, her office released the following statement:
Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee strongly believe that all families in the District of Columbia must have access to excellent public school options, and are committed to ensuring that students in every ward are afforded this opportunity. While Chancellor Rhee hasn’t taken a formal position on vouchers, she disagrees with the notion that vouchers are the remedy for repairing the city’s school system.
So, Rhee does not officially support vouchers and doesn't believe they can solve the problems facing DC's schools. Sorry Senator McCain.
Debate Reaction
Posted by NEA on October 15, 2008 10:52 PM
Finally, the presidential candidates talked about education at length in a nationally televised debate and that resonated with NEA member Sharon Verhoff of Chillicothe, Ohio. "I was very grateful," said Verhoff, a high school teacher who attended a debate watch party sponsored by the Ohio Education Association. "I know the economy had to be spoken to first...but for (education) to have come up really sent a spark through the room," said Verhoff. An Obama supporter, she thought her candidate was "clear and direct" on the issues surrounding education, including his talk about the need for the federal government to support the states with adequate funding for education. (You can check out our play-by-play of the debate, including the education discussion, here.)
As she has throughout the election, Verhoff will leave tonight's debate party energized and ready to campaign for a candidate who supports public education. "As a public school teacher, I talk to my colleagues about the importance of voting for their interest: education, education, education."
What did you think of the talk about education in the debate? Let us know in the comments.
Paid for by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, www.neafund.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Liveblogging the Presidential Debates
Posted by NEA on October 15, 2008 9:13 PM
10:30 - The debate's over, but the dialogue isn't. How do you think the candidates did? What did you think of their talk about education? Let us know in the comments!
10:29 - Obama says we need "fundamental change in this country." He adds that brighter days are still ahead, but we must have tax cuts for the middle class, health care for all Americans, and affordable college education for all eligible students. "It's not going to be easy, it's not going to be quick," Obama says, adding that he will work "every single day, tirelessly," if elected.
10:28 - In his closing statement, McCain says all children deserve a quality education, not just the privileged few. He says he would be honored to serve the country as president.
10:23 - McCain calls the education system one that "cries out" for reform. He says No Child Left Behind—which Obama points out had the money left behind, too—was "a good start." McCain calls vouchers a proven reform strategy. Obama says he disagrees that there's data proving their success. Also, Obama points out that McCain's voucher-based education plan only affects the District of Columbia, which means that the 50 states are left behind by when it comes to a comprehensive plan for supporting the nation's public schools.
Have An Opinion On Who the Best Candidate Is For Public Education?
Posted by NEA on October 15, 2008 10:56 AM
We want to hear it. We'll be liveblogging the final presidential debate tonight between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. The candidates are squaring off on domestic issues at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, starting at 9 p.m. Smart money is on the economy dominating the evening's agenda, but we've got another domestic issue we're awfully partial to: public education. What do you want the candidates to talk about this evening? Let us know in the comments.
At a debate watch party last week in Nashville, Tennessee, members of the Tennessee Education Association showed their blogging prowess, weighing in right here on the Education Votes blog with comments. Tonight, NEA member teachers and education support professionals at debate watch parties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia will be doing the same. But we want to hear from you, too. Stay tuned to our blog throughout the evening to get an education activist perspective, hear what members have to say, and leave your own comments about which candidate will be best for public education
After the jump, we suggest some questions for tonight's debate between Obama and McCain. Add your own in the comments!
Get the Facts, Fight the Smears
Posted by NEA on October 15, 2008 10:31 AM
As an educator you wouldn't stand for your students basing any sort of important report solely on an anonymously written mass email or on a conversation they had in the cafeteria with their friends. Why would you base your vote for the person who will lead the country for the next four years on the same quality of information? Be prepared with the facts when someone claims falsely that Democratic nominee Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists," is a Muslim (he's a committed Christian), a socialist, and even that he had the American flag removed from his campaign plane. See the plane—and the American flag on it—along with all the other facts that disprove these outrageous rumors at Fight the Smears.
Paid for by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, www.neafund.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Talking Points
Posted by NEA on October 9, 2008 11:52 AM
"I am not just voting for him, I believe he will create an America we all want."
—NEA President Dennis Van Roekel on Sen. Barack Obama,
to reporters gathered in Nashville for Tuesday's presidential debate.
Paid for by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, www.neafund.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Debate Reaction: Obama Will Turn the Page
Posted by NEA on October 8, 2008 12:30 PM
For NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, who attended last night's debate in Nashville, the fundamental issue on the table was was simple: Which candidate will lay out real plans to address the issues that keep voters up at night?
The answer, says Van Roekel, was clear.
McCain Health Plan = Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, Taxes on Workers' Benefits
Posted by NEA on October 8, 2008 11:19 AM
Watching the presidential debate last night, you might have been confused when Sen. John McCain claimed his health care plan would mean a $5,000 tax credit for families to use toward health insurance premiums. If you read our post the other day about how McCain's plan also calls for taxing families based on the amount of their health care benefits, you know that getting money in one hand and having it taken right out of the other doesn't make any sense for America's working families.
Presidential Debate #2: Meet the Undecideds
Posted by NEA on October 7, 2008 7:55 PM
In a few minutes Barack Obama and John McCain take the stage in Nashville for the second presidential debate, which will be conducted as a “town hall.” Questions about domestic and foreign policy will be asked by plain ol’ regular voters in the audience and over the Internet.
McCain and Obama have both taken questions by audience members at their respective rallies, but they were usually softballs from friendly supporters. Tonight’s attendees, however, are undecided voters, selected by the Gallup organization.
Some pretty tight restrictions are in place – for example, participants can’t change their questions and they aren’t permitted follow-ups - so we may be in for a rather staid debate. But ordinary citizens often frame issues in interesting and refreshing ways and the public, gripped by the recent economic crisis and challenges overseas, is deeply engaged in this critical campaign. Hopefully, the questions tonight will be sharp enough to highlight the two candidates' starkly different agendas.
9:03 - First question of the night, as expected, on the economy. Obama outlines his plans - more oversight of Wall Street, "rescuing middle class." (Expect to hear "middle class" a lot tonight.) In response to a question from Tom Brokaw about an ideal pick for Secretary of Treasury, McCain praises Warren Buffet and former Ebay president Meg Whitman. Obama says the next Treasury Secretary must understand the needs of the middle class.
Presidential Debate Number Two Means It's Town Hall Time
Posted by NEA on October 7, 2008 9:44 AM
That's the setup at tonight's town hall debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Candidates will be up close and personal with their questioners—"regular folks," not a media moderator. The candidates aren't the only ones getting ready. Tennessee's teachers have been mobilizing all week (and long before this week) to elect leaders who will support public schools. Tonight, with scorecards in hand, they'll gather for a debate watching party. On the agenda: spirited conversation and good food (fingers crossed for some Nashville BBQ or maybe Elvis' favorite—fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches) sponsored by the Tennessee Education Association.
Does Every American Deserve Health Care? You Make the Call.
Posted by NEA on October 7, 2008 12:00 AM
Educators know that every American deserves quality, affordable health care, be it a student, a parent or guardian, their own family, or community members. But not all members of Congress agree. Today's your day to let them know if you think they're just plain wrong about that. Best part: the call is free. Health Care for America Now, a coalition of advocacy groups (includes the NEA) fighting for health care for all, is sponsoring a national call-in to Congress day. You can help make a difference in just a few easy steps.
1. Find out where your member of Congress stands, by scanning this list. As of right now, 50 members of Congress have signed Health Care for America Now's Statement of Common Person. Are your members on the list?
2. Once you find out, raise your voice, either by clicking the "Click to Call" button here:
Snapshot: NEA in Nashville for the Second Presidential Debate
Posted by NEA on October 6, 2008 12:30 PM
After closing out last week in St. Louis, Missouri, talking about the importance of public education being a priority in the presidential and vice-presidential debates, NEA leaders packed up and headed to Nashville, where Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain will debate tomorrow. Above, NEA Secretary-Treasurer Becky Pringle visits today with Tehiyah Carver, a fourth-grader from Una Elementary School in Nashville.
And the Education Votes traveling billboard came to Tennessee, too! It started the weekend in St. Louis:
Then it made its way to the Volunteer State, cruising by Graceland on the way to voter registration drives where NEA member educators encouraged fellow community members to register in time for Tennessee's deadline this evening:
If you see the Education Votesmobile in your town, snap a picture and send it to us at ckopkowski@nea.org. Extra credit if you're standing next to it!
(Photos by Staci Maiers/NEA. All rights reserved.)
Debate Reaction: NEA On the Scene in St. Louis
Posted by NEA on October 2, 2008 11:40 PM
NEA was on the ground in the St. Louis area for the vice-presidential debate, mobilizing members to take an active role - especially in a swing state like Missouri - in the 2008 presidential election. NEA Vice-President Lily Eskelsen (right) attended the debate and Secretary-Treasurer Becky Pringle was at a debate watch party with teachers and education support professionals.
Vice-Presidential Debate: Biden vs. Palin
Posted by NEA on October 2, 2008 8:44 PM
The vice-presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin will begin in a few minutes. It’s safe to say that the buzz surrounding this encounter matches, even surpasses, that for the McCain/Obama debate from last week.
What can we expect tonight? Well, both candidates will be standing behind a podium and will field questions from a single moderator (PBS’ Gwen Ifill ), but the rules negotiated by both camps don’t allow for much of a free-flowing exchange between the candidates.The debate will cover both foreign and domestic policy.
Biden of course has a long record in his more than 35 years in the U.S. Senate. On the other hand, Palin’s relatively brief political career leaves quite a few blank spaces. Maybe voters will get a fuller picture on where she stands after the debate. Otherwise, I will eagerly go out on a limb and predict that education will be on tonight's menu of questions.
Snapshot: NEA in Missouri for the VP Debate
Posted by NEA on October 2, 2008 4:55 PM
Remember when we told you yesterday that NEA member educators and leaders were traveling across Missouri, talking about the importance of candidates with policies that support public education, students, and educators? Well here's a shot of local television station MUTV interviewing NEA Secretary-Treasurer Becky Pringle at a college affordability rally at the University of Missouri in Columbia yesterday.
If you're wondering about the sweet ride behind them, that's the Education Votes rolling billboard, which is making its way across the battleground state at political events this week to tout this very site. Keep an eye out for it at upcoming events in Tennessee and New York and be sure to honk hello if you see it in your state!
(Photos by Staci Maiers/NEA. All rights reserved.)
Joel Packer Explains it All: Tonight's VP Debate
Posted by NEA on October 2, 2008 12:24 PM
The Vice-Presidential debate will be the only opportunity to hear Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin jointly discuss their views and records on important issues facing our country – including education.
We don’t really know Governor Palin’s views on NCLB. The education plan she proposed when running for governor doesn’t mention NCLB. Yet 41.3 percent of Alaska’s schools failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress as required by NCLB . Both of Alaska’s senators and its House member have sponsored bills to change NCLB by providing common-sense flexibility for states and schools to meet accountability standards.
McCain's Health Care Tax Not the Cure for What Ails Any Working Family
Posted by NEA on October 2, 2008 10:39 AM
Talk about a bitter pill to swallow: According to most independent health care experts, Sen. John McCain’s health care fix amounts to a new tax on working families; leaves 20 million Americans out of employer-sponsored coverage; and increases out-of-pocket costs across the board. Want to see for yourself? Head to www.mccainhealthcaretax.com — a new site unveiled today in conjunction with Education Votes where you can check out the facts about the candidate's plan and lobby him to change his position.
"Sen. McCain’s plan is further evidence that he still doesn’t understand the needs of working Americans,” says NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “In the midst of the worst economic crisis America has seen since the Great Depression, he fails to grasp the urgency with which we need to provide more health care coverage for the 45 million Americans who don’t have health insurance. To top it all off, his plan would pull the rug out from under employers that try to do right by their employees by paying some or all of their health care premiums."
Before the VP Debate, Educators Show the Show-Me State Why Public Education Matters
Posted by NEA on October 1, 2008 3:32 PM
Tomorrow night, Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin will take the stage at 9 p.m. in St. Louis, Missouri, for a much-anticipated vice-presidential debate. But educators in Missouri have already been rolling up their sleeves in a race that they know will affect their jobs and personal lives long after the cable trucks have driven away.
As part of the Education Votes tour, educators across the state are joining NEA and Missouri NEA leaders (including Missouri Teacher of the Year Margaret Williams and M-NEA President Chris Guinther, pictured at an event today at right), traversing the battleground state to talk with members about the importance of electing leaders who will partner with then on such issues as salary, NCLB, health care, and retirement benefits.
Nice Health Care, If You Can Get It...From a Union
Posted by NEA on October 1, 2008 11:37 AM
Consider for a minute Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's praise for the role that unions played in ensuring she and her husband Todd had health insurance when they were starting out as a family:
"Yeah there's been a lot of times that Todd and I have had to figure out how we were going to pay for health insurance. We've gone through periods of our life here with paying out of pocket for health coverage until Todd and I both landed a couple of good union jobs. Early on in our marriage, we didn't have health insurance, and we had to either make the choice of paying out of pocket for catastrophic coverage or just crossing our fingers, hoping that nobody would get hurt, nobody would get sick. So I know what Americans are going through there."
Monday Morning Debate Game: Who Said That?
Posted by NEA on September 29, 2008 11:31 AM
If you watched Friday night's first presidential debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain you know that the talk was about the economy and foreign policy. But education got more than a few mentions. From at least one candidate, that is. Here's what was said about education, and matters directly affecting it, like spending. Try to guess who said what. Answers after the jump, but no peeking!
1. "How about a spending freeze on everything but defense, veteran affairs and entitlement [spending]? I think we ought to seriously consider it."
Was it: Obama or McCain?
2. "The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel. There are some programs that are very important that are currently underfunded. I want to increase early childhood education."
Was it: Obama or McCain?
3. "We've got to know what our values are and who we're fighting for and what our priorities are."
Was it: Obama or McCain?
Joel Packer Explains it All: Freezing Children's Programs = Chilling Our Future
Posted by NEA on September 28, 2008 8:03 AM
Who thought investing in children and public education would have been part of Friday night's presidential debate on foreign policy and national security?
Sen. Barack Obama made crystal clear he understands that such investments are a critical element in protecting our economic future, our global competitiveness, and yes, our national security.
Presidential Debate I: Does Education Get a Mention?
Posted by NEA on September 26, 2008 9:51 PM
Well, we weren't sure if it was going to happen, but here we are, watching Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain facing off in the first of three presidential debates. Tonight they're in Oxford, Mississippi, ostensibly to debate foreign policy, but we're guessing the economy might just figure prominently in the debate.
9:15-CNN is featuring a reaction meter at the bottom of the screen, showing lines representing Democratic, Republican, and Independent reaction to the candidates. So far they're all flatlining.
9:30-First education mention of the evening! When John McCain asserts that he would freeze spending on nearly all programs to right the U.S. economy, Barack Obama counters that that approach is like "using a hatchet" when a scalpel is called for. Why, Obama asks, would we stop spending on early childhood education programs?
10:12-Looks like we're solidly into foreign policy territory at this point.
10:38-Debate is over. As promised, it focused on foreign policy. Now we're heading into the spin room, which some would argue is where the debate winners are really determined.
Attacking a Virus Virally
Posted by NEA on September 23, 2008 7:23 PM
"There's not a single good reason for any worker, especially any union member, to vote against Barack Obama. And there's only one really, really bad reason to vote against Barack Obama, and that's because he's not White."
That's the admonition of AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, addressing the United Steelworkers convention. That convention was held this past summer, but the excerpt of Trumka's full speech is making its way across the Internet, borne through cyberspace on Facebook pages, blogs, and in emails. In the speech, Trumka addresses what has been an elephant in the room this election season: the idea of voters rejecting Obama for no reason other than the color of his skin.
Other union leaders are picking up where Trumka left off, urging labor members to fight racism on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert Haynes gave an impassioned speech against an anti-Obama, race-based whisper campaign that he personally witnessed on several occasions, as did Trumka. "I'll be damned, and I know you'll be damned, if I let racism . . . scare this country into voting for John McCain," Haynes told more than 350 at a labor gathering in Boston who clammored to thank him afterward.
We want to hear from you. Are you seeing and hearing racism surrounding the Obama candidacy? How do you respond when confronted with it?
Paid for by the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education, www.neafund.org. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Joel Packer Explains it All: Rhetoric and Reality
Posted by NEA on September 22, 2008 10:04 AM
Recently, both Senators Obama and McCain have devoted more attention to education issues.
I’m happy about that, because it’s important for educators and the public to learn more about both candidates' education proposals.
We also need to look not just at what they say they will do, but what they have done.
Joel Packer Explains it All: McCain and Education is Same Old, Same Old
Posted by NEA on September 5, 2008 9:15 PM
Last night Senator McCain proclaimed himself an agent of change. Yet the education portion of his speech was basically the same as what Senator Bob Dole said in 1996 - private school vouchers and fighting against teacher unions.
Americans are looking for proven school improvement strategies that will ensure a great public school for every child. Because more than 90% of children attend public schools, our commitment should be to improving those schools. Public schools serve all kinds of children, regardless of their background or special needs, which cannot be said of all private schools. Vouchers are not the answer.
So What Do I Get Next From EducationVotes?
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 11:12 PM
Plenty! The balloons are filling the Xcel Energy Center as the 2008 Republican National Convention comes to a close but that's not the end of our coverage. In the coming days, look for posts wrapping up the past two weeks and providing more context. We're already looking ahead to the three presidential debates and the vice-presidential debates, which we'll be liveblogging. Of course you'll want to check in each day to get a great new tip for taking political action. And if you feel like there are issues that you want to learn more about, we've got you covered with our Policy Issues briefings. They're helpful and digestible -- the way all politics should be.
That's it from St. Paul. On to the debates!
Liveblogging the Final Hours of the 2008 Republican National Convention
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 10:04 PM
10:04 - Speech ends with lengthy call for Americans to "stand up" and "fight," including, "fight for our children's future." Place erupts. Balloons drop after vice-presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin joins McCain on stage.
9:40 - Education takes center stage! Or should we say school choice takes center stage: "Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained, but what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work. When a public school fails to meet its obligation to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children and I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have the choice and their child will have that opportunity. Sen. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureacracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. When I'm president they will."
Here's the problem: sitting in front of McCain in tonight's audience are a number of educators who are members of the NEA and who are fired up to show the party that vouchers are damaging public schools. Find out why.
9:39 - Speaking about economic stimulus, McCain suggests: "We can use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities."
9:27 - McCain touts his having fought drug companies, lobbyists, and "union bosses" among others.
Media Matters
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 8:49 PM
Here's a quick look at some of what's being said in the nation's papers and blogs about the NEA at the Republican National Convention.
* “While not quite the political equivalent of entering the lion's den, the National Education Association has a notable presence at this week's Republican National Convention in an attempt to burnish its bipartisan credentials and show members it is not an unofficial arm of the Democratic Party.”
National Journal
* “While attending the Republican National Convention on his first day as president of the National Education Association, Dennis Van Roekel spoke with Education Week reporter Mark Walsh about why he was at the RNC and how the NEA feels about Sen. John McCain's education agenda.”
Education Week
Talking Points
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 8:41 PM
"I was amazed at how much coalescence there was around Sen. McCain's education agenda. His agenda is the party's agenda."
--Lisa Graham Keegan, Sen. John McCain's top education advisor, about the Republican Party platform passed this week, in an interview with Education Week.
Better Know a Delegate
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 7:45 PM
NEA member delegates Jesse O'Hara, a retired high school counselor from Great Falls, Montana, and Tobin Brinker, a teacher from San Bernardino, California, talk about why they're here at the Republican National Convention lobbying other attendees and leaders on behalf of public education.
The Daily Feed
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 7:08 PM
Get all the scoop on the day's convention activity from NEA multimediablogger Cynthia Kopkowski.
Wait, What Did He Just Say?
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 4:20 PM
Like their compatriots in the Xcel Energy Center last night, the Republican NEA delegates said they thought speakers Rudy Guiliani and vice-presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin scored big points with the base. But at least one comment from a speaker--former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney--left some of them cold. Romney attempted to position the nations' educators in opposition to the students they work with every day, criticizing government that "puts the interests of the teachers union ahead of the needs of our children." That seemed odd to delegate Keri Martensen, a computer education teacher from Kansas City, Missouri.
Joel Packer Explains it All: NEA's Fighting for Quality Teachers Facing Those Just Fighting
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 4:06 PM
There’s been a lot of criticism of unions at breakout forms held in conjunction with both conventions for opposing “reforms” to improve teacher quality. What’s ignored in those attacks is the wide range of innovations NEA supports. Want to hear them? Of course you do! They include:
* Incentives to attract qualified teachers to hard-to-staff schools, for the achievement of National Board Certification, and for additional responsibilities such as peer assistance or mentoring;
* Additional pay for working additional time through extended school days or years;
* Additional pay for teachers who acquire new knowledge and skills and/or earn advanced credentials/degrees directly related to their school's mission and/or their individual assignments; and
Today's Schedule: "A Safer and More Secure America"
Posted by NEA on September 4, 2008 11:46 AM
It's the final day of the 2008 Republican National Convention and delegates will hear from Sen. John McCain, who around 11 p.m. last night earned their nomination for the presidency. We'll be liveblogging it starting at around 9 p.m., so be sure to check back in throughout the afternoon and evening. Also today:
* Cindy McCain, who made a brief appearance on the first night of the convention imploring donations for hurricane victims, takes the stage to speak about her husband. Expect a plethora of "Cindy for First Lady" signs, as they've been popular in the hall the last few nights.
* McCain BFF and South Carolina's Sen. Lindsey Graham (that's how he was introduced earlier today on a cable show. OK, not "BFF," but "best friend") will be one of several speakers sharing their perspective on the candidate. Others include Florida's Sen. Mel Martinez, former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, and Minnesota's Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Talking Points
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 11:43 PM
"Is a government liberal or conservative that puts the interests of the teachers union ahead of the needs of our children? It's liberal."--Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaking to the delegation Wednesday night.
Better Know a Delegate
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 8:48 PM
Chris Stanley
Warren, Rhode Island
High school U.S. history teacher
A student of Stanley's asked him one day some years ago how you become a delegate to a national political convention. Stanley didn't know and promised he'd find out. In doing so, the teacher actually became a delegate, and he's now attending his third convention, this time as an alternate delegate. He's not just here to take in the speeches and the floor action, but also to lobby on behalf of public education as a member of the NEA. "Layoffs, better materials, new technology, NCLB--those are the things we need to go out and change," says Stanley, who is now in his 13th year as a teacher. "Professional development is also key. We need to be able to engage our students."
Talking Points
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 7:19 PM
"In this historic election we have a clear choice between two very different governing philosophies."
-Former Hewlett-Packard Chairwoman and CEO Carly Fiorina, in address to the delegates Wednesday night.
Why the Talk Here Matters Back Home
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 6:00 PM
A GOP pundit on MSNBC had us scratching our heads this morning when he said that the party platform doesn't matter the day after it's passed. Granted, we hadn't had our coffee yet, but it seemed like an awfully cynical view. If that is the current reality, why accept it? Why not create a viable platform that does matter and does support public education so you don't have to merely step over it like roadkill the day after it's passed?
Perfect example: codifying in the platform a call for all children to have great public school facilities that are safe and conducive to learning. As policy wonk Joel Packer points out, the Republican platform calls for school choice as the solution for children in dangerous or failing schools, not proper funding for existing public schools. By that logic, when your car breaks down you should abandon it on the side of the road and go buy a new one, rather than fixing the car.
The Daily Feed
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 4:25 PM
Get all the day's scoop from the Republican National Convention from NEA multimedia blogger Cynthia Kopkowski.
Joel Packer Explains it All: Party Divisions
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 11:43 AM
While neither the Republican platform nor Sen. John McCain’s education plan mentions No Child Left Behind, there are many Republicans in Congress who have sponsored bills--often drafted with input by NEA!--to make needed changes to the law. One state that has a Republican delegation united in its criticism of NCLB? Today's Schedule: Serving a Cause Greater Than Self
Posted by NEA on September 3, 2008 10:45 AM
Tonight's speeches will focus on the theme, "Serving a Cause Greater Than Self." We'll hear from:
* Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's pick for the vice-presidential spot on the GOP ticket. It will be interesting to gauge the reaction to Palin from delegates who have actually been somewhat isolated from the cable news/blogosphere brouhaha swirling around Palin and her family.
* Rudy Guiliani, former New York City mayor and presidential candidate, delivers the keynote address.
* Delegates will take a roll call vote of the states to officially nominate Sen. McCain as the Republican Party presidential candidate.
The Daily Feed
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 7:09 PM
Get all the scoop from the 2008 Republican National Convention from NEA multimedia blogger Cynthia Kopkowski.
Talking Points
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 5:42 PM
"I do not think he's going to be worried about the teachers' unions and the equities of grown-ups."
--U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, on Sen. John McCain, in interview Monday with Education Week.
Joel Packer Explains it All: Platform Diving, The Republican Version
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 5:30 PM
Grab your suits and hold your noses, it's time for some platform diving. In my last post I wrote about the Democratic platform. Well the Republican Party platform passed unanimously yesterday and unfortunately, it falls short of what educators--including the 1 million Republican NEA members--hoped for in supporting children and public education.
It does have some positive provisions such as:
“We support state efforts to build coordination between elementary and secondary education and higher education such as K-16 councils and dual credit programs.” And, “Because a federal mandate on the states must include the promised federal funding, we will fulfill the promise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to cover 40 percent of the costs incurred because of that legislation.”
However, it surprisingly fails to address the fundamental flaws of the No Child Left Behind Act and its test, label and punish mandates.
Pushing 21st Century Learning, Not Politics
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 4:59 PM
It took several hours, but a forum in Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon finally offered a rare viewing of a unique species: an educator brought in to talk about education reform. "A real, live teacher," joked John Wilson, executive director of the NEA, which co-sponsored the event on teaching kids skills to compete globally. His cheekiness was well earned, as Wilson had spent the morning at another education forum featuring a lot of people talking about what educators should be doing, even though at least one of them (looking in your direction, Secretary Spellings) had never actually talked to the people that represent 3.2 million of them.
Liveblogging Newt, Al, and The Other Education Entrepreneurs
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 11:28 AM
We've got our coffee, we've got our laptops fired up, and we're all set for an event called "Time to Choose -- Children or the Bureaucracy," featuring former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings among others talking about "the need for a truly innovative, 21st Century education reform." It's an event sponsored by the folks at Ed in '08. No teachers invited to speak at this education reform event.
12:15 - So what did NEA Executive Director John Wilson think about the morning's forum? "Quite frankly it wasn't as vitriolic as the counter event at the Democratic National Convention so I appreciated that. Gov. Pawlenty set the tone and as a governor, he obviously understands how important it is to bring all stakeholders to the table. I thought it was interesting that Margaret Spellings, who took a few cheap shots at unions, has never invited the NEA into her office to have any kind of conversation on education. I think she's missed so many opportunities." Wilson added, "There is no teacher who really doesn't care about our children. Next to the parent, they're the most important to that child. (Those like the panelists) cannot divide the teacher from their union. For us, children are very important. They're a part of our vision statement. It doesn't say 'Great public schools for all teachers.' If (panelists) were sincere about having the deep conversations to find solutions, they would have a teacher or a representative of the collective views of teachers up there."
12:05 - "I don't disagree at all with the Speaker," Spellings says. "If the teachers unions were smart, and they are smart, that they'd see that the (education) institution itself is at risk." Romer calls for "more common standards, more rigorous standards" for assessing education progress.`Keegan closes event saying that the Republican Party has taken the lead in education reform.
12:00 - Panel discussion begins and Gingrich says that we must move beyond No Child Left Behind to something called "Every American Child Gets Ahead." Says that we won World War II in less than three years, so it shouldn't take 20 years to get every child in the nation learning properly. There is a need for "achievement-based hiring" as opposed to "credentials-based hiring," he says.
11:51 - "Keepers of the flame," want to blame the parents and the lack of comprehensive, national early childhood education, Spellings says. Guess she didn't like Sharpton's speech. Then she calls for the need to "stare down these unions." Guess she didn't hear Pawlenty's speech.
11:48 - Love it or hate it, the so-called No Child Left Behind act has reframed the focus of American schools and assessment, Spellings says. "No Child Left Behind is so modest it's unbelievable." For those keeping track, No Child Left Behind taps out at over 1,000 pages and the bureaucracy it has wrought has created tremendous anxiety for educators trying to actually educate the nation's children, rather than reducing them to a test score. Want to hear it from those classroom teachers, as opposed to the nation's top education bureaucrat? You'll want to read this.
Better Know a Delegate
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 8:34 AM
Davina Keiser, an educator in Long Beach, California, says that people look at her "like she's an oxymoron" when she tells them she's a teacher and a Republican. Events like this past week's NEA Republican Leaders Conference help her learn the best way for networking with elected representatives from her own party. "By reaching out to them, they're in turn reaching out to me," says Keiser. "We're building those bridges that we should be instead of building fences."
Ron Edwards, a sixth-grade math and science teacher from Central Valley, California, points out that in his state one-third of California Teachers Association are members. That's more than 100,000 people.
Today's Schedule: Who is John McCain
Posted by NEA on September 2, 2008 6:26 AM
A schedule for floor action and speakers was released early Tuesday morning and the theme of the day is "Who is John McCain." There is also plenty on tap today for those wondering what Republicans would have in store for public education and what NEA thinks needs to be done to better prepare students.
* An event called "Time to Choose -- Children or the Bureaucracy" features former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Education Secretary Margaret Spellings among others talking about "the need for a truly innovative, 21st Century education reform." See any active classroom teachers on that list of participants? No, neither do we. But we'll be there. And if this event sounds familiar, it's because it's a mirror event to an anti-union one held last week in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. You can get caught up on what our policy expert Joel Packer had to say about the decided lack of logic at that event.
Better Know a Delegate
Posted by NEA on September 1, 2008 9:06 PM
Republican NEA members Suzanne and Kent Hermon of Alaska explain why public education advocacy is important to them.
The Daily Feed
Posted by NEA on September 1, 2008 7:30 PM
Get the scoop on the day's convention activity from NEA multimedia blogger Cynthia Kopkowski.
Better Know a Delegate
Posted by NEA on September 1, 2008 1:26 PM
It might just be NEA's best kept secret: more than 1 million of the Association's 3.2 million members are Republicans. That's 1 million voters and 1 million supporters of public education. This week, a sizeable contingent of those Republican members came to Minneapolis/St. Paul to attend NEA's second annual Republican Leaders Conference. Conference attendees got the tools and strategies they need to become activists or to hone advocacy work they're already doing when they head home.
One of the NEA Republicans in Minneapolis/St. Paul this week is Al Fitzpatrick, a high school government and law teacher from Newport, Oregon. Listen below as Fitzpatrick--a delegate to the convention--talks about why it's important to him to be an advocate for public education.
Dennis in the Twin Cities
Posted by NEA on September 1, 2008 10:24 AM
