Where Th'Heck Have You Been?

Well, From late September thru early November, I was out west working a campaign. Utah had passed a innovative School Voucher program and before the ink of the Governors signature was dry, the NEA took the program to court.

The NEA is the National Education Association. It is an educators' union and
political lobby. Most public school teachers belong to it. They go after them as
college freshmen and usually keep them. It is a fact that the NEA is one of the
most liberal (politically left) unions in the country. You can argue if a
liberal paradigm is good or bad but you cannot argue that the NEA isn't liberal.

The court ruled that the School Voucher program would be put to a public vote and I was there fighting for choice in education.

Our only aim should be the quality education of our children; but for some, it isn't.
Our goal should not be that they are only educated with a certain philosophy in a certain way; but for some, it is.

School Vouchers, in this case, would have provided more affordable choices for parents in how and where there children are educated. It would have reduced the government monopoly on education and actually improved student-teacher ratio in the public schools with out reducing their funding. It was financially sound. It would not benefit the wealthy or children already in private schools. It was well crafted with years of hard work, research, and compromise. So why would the NEA be against it? As one official actually allowed them selves to be heard saying out loud, "we want more control of the children." That does not mean more orderly classrooms but control of their hearts and minds. That's what this battle was about. It was a battle we lost.

Soon, I'll opine more on why and the nature of the opposition.

For now, take a good look at the NEA for your self and the nature of education in your own community. Then ask, "Who's money are they spending?" and "Why?"