From Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum http://www.eagleforum.org/psr/2010/aug10/psraug10.html The NEA's Legislative Program that was adopted at the 2010 Convention in New Orleans - and yes, it does include something about Homeschooling!
Oh, where should I begin with the FAIL in that article? How about if I make it simpler and simply say I disagree with it ALL! So basically their only goal is to destroy education for everyone right, seriously if that crap goes into law we'll all be in a world of trouble because frankly exactly where should the money come from to pay for all those manditory programs? And excuse me, but no one, and I mean no one will take my children at age 3 and force them into public pre-k programs!
OMG...I simply cannot believe this!! I don't know whether to be extremely sad, or Extrmely angry!!! I guess I'm both. I'm sad/angry because they think Home education has failed (that must be why more parents are choosing to homeschool rather than sending their kids to public school), and they want to teach my kids all about SEX with teachers who can't be sued or questioned in anyway! There is so much wrong with this that it's completely overwhelming...
First, this confused me.... Does that mean they oppose the states allowing homeschooling? or does it have to do with vouchers for home schoolers??? Then this got me reeeeeaaaaalllllllyyyyyy angry... 1) Who do they consider an "extremist group". 2) Who gave them power to condemn? 3) What are their imposed consequences for such groups? And, for all you teachers out there who think your dues go to a group whose political agenda is irrelevant to you... Now you know that they do, in fact, expect you to agree with their political leanings on all counts. Wow, wow, wow. Anyone ready to grab your pick axe and start digging underground escape routes???
It's just another way for the government to indoctrinate our children, and to keep them under their thumb. Take control away from teh parent and teach them that the Governmnt is the only guardian they will ever need. This sounds more and more like how the Nazi's started out, don't you think? What was it that Hitler said, "Give me your Children and I will have the next Generation." "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." - Norman Thomas (US Socialist Presidential Candidate) In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it costs nothing to be a patriot. - Mark Twain "The issue today is the same as it has always been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite." — Thomas Jefferson
Did you read this part? B-82. Home Schooling. The National Education Association believes that home schooling programs based on parental choice cannot provide the student with a comprehensive education experience. When home schooling occurs, students enrolled must meet all state curricular requirements, including the taking and passing of assessments to ensure adequate academic progress. Home schooling should be limited to the children of the immediate family, with all expenses being borne by the parents/guardians. Instruction should be by persons who are licensed by the appropriate state education licensure agency, and a curriculum approved by the state department of education should be used. The Association also believes that home-schooled students should not participate in any extracurricular activities in the public schools.
There is NOTHING NEW in any of this! My huband is an NEA member, but not so much by choice. And we have LOTS of fun when they call about voting!!! We listen very carefully, and write down the names of those they endorse. Then we thank them very nicely, telling them that we were undecided but now knew who NOT to vote for.... SERIOUSLY!!! I will be forwarding this to him. And Brooke, I had the same question about who exactly is "extremist". Seems to me the NEA is....
Huh, I thought the article I read was complete. It didn't contain the section you mentioned above. This explains a lot about our local administration's views on homeschooling. So now I know they are being brainwashed before they even give us the time of day. Well played, NEA.
Just got off the NEA's website and downloaded the complete pdf of the resolutions. This should also be added to section B-82.... Not sure how many of us have ever, or will ever, need to utilize the ps system, but enrolling your child in a grade should not require testing and the school's blessing on your choice of curriculum.
I-3. International Criminal Court. The Association believes that the United States should ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and recognize and support its authority and jurisdiction What the heck what about the Supreme court or the Constituion
I agree completely, aggie. Just more proof that the NEA is not really about education so much as a large group to wield political power at the masses.
Quote: The Association further believes that local public school systems should have the authority to determine grade placement and/or credits earned toward graduation for students entering or re-entering the public school setting from a home school setting. Brooke, it's already that way - they already do have the authority to determine grade placement and credits earned. If a homeschool kid is enrolled into a public school here, they have to be tested. Period. End of story. The public schools here have refused to accept Abeka Academy credits, insisting on their own tests to determine whether a high schooler will get any credits for work already completed, rather than accept a real transcript from a real private school. They don't care at all what curriculum you have used before, or how accredited it is in another state, and to be quite honest, I think maybe they don't want homeschoolers "dropping back in" and showing up their ps kids, or taking away "class rankings" from those who have been in ps forever. By the way, I might ought to mention that I had a student once who had been in and out of homeschooling, an ACE school, and my school, back and forth several times. She finally decided that she wanted to try public school. So she took their entrance tests, and they ended up putting her in the tenth grade instead of the ninth (where she had been with me), and granting her credits for her freshman year! I was totally shocked!
Here in IL, our experience was that the ps told us they would give my kids (then 3rd and 6th grade) tests before placing them. I knew my rights in IL were to show up and tell them the grade level and they had to enroll them at that level, so that is just what I did. I knew some states were like yours, but I sure would hate to lose what freedoms we still have here in IL. About credits....not sure what the policy is on that. We lived in IA a short time where the individual schools have authority and the local ps refused to even look at your transcripts and will not award credit to anyone who was not enrolled in an acredited program. Not sure what IL policy is, but at one time about 7 or 8 years ago, our local ps awarded credit for homeschoolers. In IL, homeschools are considered private schools. It is only recently coming to light the bias the ps has toward homeschoolers even though legally they are the same as the private Christian school in the next town over. :roll:
There is so much wrong here. 1. The teachers' jobs shouldn't depend on testing. Why do they test the kids then? 2. English shouldn't be the official language? Why not? We're not saying people can't speak other languages, just wanting to make one official to keep things orderly. 3. We need more sex ed? Why? Can't we see that all this "help" is not doing anything to stop the wrong behavior. Also, with the current climate of "anything goes" type of sex ed, we are only making it harder for kids to think anything they want to do is wrong. In fact, they are being told that if they do it safely--it is alright. My son was in public for a while and in elementary school they wanted him to watch a video about safe sex. I didn't let him participate. 4. Homeschoolers should be evaluated or tested? Why? Are we doing that badly? Really, it is about control. I don't think they really even believe that they have the best interests of the child at heart. 5. Homeschoolers can't participate in extra-curricular activities? Aren't they worried about socialization? This makes me very angry. It is a broken system and it is trying to fix itself by using broken methods, while telling everyone else it will work. Plus, they have so many things listed in there that aren't even school related.
I have to agree with the NEA on this one. As the wife of a PS teacher, I can see all the problems that will result. There are "good" schools and "bad" schools". There are "good" districts and "bad" districts. Generally speaking, if you've got a "rich suburb district", the kids usually do better than "inner city districts". Why? Because the PARENTS stress the importance of getting a good education. The PARENTS have higher expectations. The majority of the kids show up to class and put forth an effort. The majority of them are college-bound. Inner-city kids have a completely different mind set. The parents don't care, the kids don't care. Teachers don't assign much homework because there's not enough books to send home with the kids, and it wouldn't be done anyway. It's a real song-and-dance act to get them to show up to class. So you punish the TEACHERS because the kids aren't learning? How does that help the situation? OK, I'm a new teacher out of college. Why should I apply to an inner-city school where I'll be fighting an up-hill battle, knowing I'll probably get less pay or be fired because of factors out of my control? These schools already have trouble recruiting teachers without penalizing them for teaching there!
I have to agree, Jackie. My son's girlfriend is a new teacher in an inner city school. She wants to be a great teacher, but the kids are "horrible". Most don't want to be there and have little family support. Their lives involve being raised by grandma, caseworkers, juvenile detention, and at least one parent in prison. She says she can't even get through a lesson because the kids won't stop talking long enough to listen. She's already been threatened with physical violence. She's only been there for a month and she comes home crying because it's so frustrating. She would be a top teacher in a suburban district with kids and families who valued education.
Ugh, I just went and read the resolutions. Scary, scary, scary...I'm not sure whether to laugh at how clueless they seem to be or cry because it's so scary. Also, since when were paid public school teachers responsible for our children from "birth to age 8". Were we supposed to turn them over to the government on the way out of the maternity ward?
Sometimes I wish I didn't have social security numbers for my kids....in a way we do turn them over immediately. :roll:
