Saturday, August 2, 2008

Feeling Sorry for Christian Teachers in Public Schools

NEA header

I’ve never been a teacher, so I’m not exactly sure how it works... if it is mandatory to join or whether teachers are extremely pressured to join the National Education Association. But I do know that most public school teachers are members of the NEA. Which is why I entitled this post what I did, because for Christian teachers in the public schools, there must be a serious tension within them, trying to be faithful Christians and yet having to be members of the NEA as well.

Why would I say such a thing? Simply because of the all the radical Anti-Christian positions that the NEA itself takes. Just the other day I was reading an article about the NEA’s most recent annual convention that took place in Washington, D.C. over the 4th of July weekend. The convention attracted some 9,000 delegates. Before the actual convention started, delegates sported all kinds of buttons with provocative slogans such as: “Gay Marriage causes Global Warming only because we are so hot,” “Hate is not a Family Value,” “The ‘Christian Right’ is Neither,” and “Gay Rights are civil rights.” Now, if that wouldn’t make a born again Christian a little uncomfortable right off the bat, I’m not sure what would.

But what about the actual business of the convention? What kinds of resolutions were passed by this noble convention of public school teachers? Well, first of all, all kinds of resolutions were passed that have absolutely nothing to do with better education. Resolutions supporting the state-hood of the District of Columbia (what is that about?), a “single-payer health care plan” (i.e. government run), gun control, and even the ratification of the International Criminal Court Treaty (yeah, this is really what public school teachers should be focus on)

So, did the convention actually have anything to say about education in public schools? Unfortunately, yes. First, the NEA “fiercely opposes any competition for public schools, such as vouchers, tuition tax cuts, parental option plans, or public support of any kind to non-public schools.” That’s a real shocker!

“The NEA strongly opposes designating English as our official language even though such a designation is supported by more than 80% of Americans.”

Of course, the NEA opposes home schooling, unless of course the parent is a state-licensed teacher and is using state-approved curriculum. And speaking of home schoolers, the NEA doesn’t support home school students participating in extra-curricular activities at the public schools even though their parents pay school taxes too. Go figure.

Oh, but it gets a lot worse. For example, the NEA resolutions includes feminist ideological goals such as “the right to reproductive freedom” (i.e. abortion on demand) and “the use of non-sexist language,” i.e. censoring out all masculine words such as father and husband.

Are you troubled yet? Well, hang on because “the influence of the gay lobby is pervasive in dozens of NEA resolutions adopted by the 2008 convention delegates.” And just in case you don’t know, “diversity is the code-word used for pro-gay indoctrination in the classroom.” Some examples are as follows:

-“The NEA demands that ‘diversity-based curricula’ even be imposed on preschoolers.”

-“The NEA urges it’s members to offer ‘diverse role models’ via the ‘hiring and promotion of diverse education employees in our public schools.”

-“The NEA puts ‘domestic partnerships, civil unions, and marriage on an equal footing.”

-“The NEA wants every child, regardless of age, to have ‘direct and confidential access, without notification to parents, to comprehensive health education. That would include things such as learning how to use condoms for premarital sex, as well as social and psychological programs and services.’”
-“The NEA wants all sex-education courses, textbooks, curricula, instructional materials, and activities to include indoctrination about sexual orientation and gender identification plus warnings about homophobia.”

I guess you can see now why I entitled this post “Feeling Sorry for Christian Teachers in the Public Schools.” And if there was ever any doubt in anyone’s mind why my wife and I are seriously considering home schooling our own children, I hope this articles opens the blinds and lets the light in for you. Christian teachers… God bless you on your mission field; you are in my prayers!


All references and quotes for this post were taken from an article entitled “NEA Delegates Adopted Radical Agenda” by Phyllis Schlafly, a writer for the weekly newspaper, "Human Events."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please don't home school your children! It's so important to be exposed to different ideas, even if you don't necessarily agree with them. The Christian right is so very, very frightening and closed-minded in this country. It makes me so sad to read this post.

Anonymous said...

I am a christian public school teacher that is facing this decision. I have been a member of NEA my whole teaching career. I have always joined due to the liability insurance, and I have been misinformed about the liberal issues that are present at the national level in this organization. It is sad that NEA spends so much time and effort on issues completely unrelated to education. Thank you!

Travis or P.T. said...

to Anonymous #1...
I agree that they should be exposed to different ideas... but only when they're old enough and mature to discern truth. And in fact, I am planning to home school my kids... b/c they're the most precious, most valuable asset my wife and I have, and I just can't see entrusting someone else with my kids in the most important years of their life.


To Anonymous #2...
You're welcome and my heart and prayers go out to you!

Anonymous said...

It makes me sad that you think that the NEA is doing anything wrong. I feel sorry for your congregation and the false fear you are spreading throughout it. I only hope that your culture of hate stops soon. I realize that you think you are doing the right thing, when in fact, you have no idea the amount of pain and hatred you are spreading. I am praying for your family and your congregation. I hope that you will see the true light of Christ, whose only agenda is love, and display that to your congregation.