Another group forms calling on Congress to 'Eliminate No Child Left Behind now'
A new group is organizing out of the National Education Association locals in California and is demanding that the NEA oppose the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. What this group is trying to do is put all politicians on notice that they are in trouble if they support NCLB. Democrats can no longer take the teacher union vote for granted.
To date, the national unions — the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) are trying to compromise, allowing NCLB to continue while modifying it. But more and more polls are showing that the majority of educators are opposed to NCLB, and an every growing number of parents agree with them.
It is my understanding that the letter below will go to all members of Congress. I just wrote Phillip Brown asking for confirmation of this.
Readers who want more information can also go to the “Eliminate NCLB” website — http://www .eliminate nclb.org
Their “Who’s Behind NCLB” page is good: http:// www. eliminate nclb.org/ who.shtml. Eliminate NCLB joins the Educator Roundtable and other groups calling for the elimination of NLCB without compromise. As reported in last month’s Substance, even though national union leaders are trying to ignore the grass roots opposition to NCLB, the opposition continues to grow.
Eliminate NCLB Task Force
October 10, 2007
Reg Weaver, President
National Education Association
1201 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036-3290
Dear Mr. Weaver:
Our Task Force to Eliminate NCLB represents approximately 10,000 teachers and support personnel in the San Joaquin Valley of California. We have been campaigning aggressively during the last twenty-four months to eliminate the Bush agenda to privatize public education. We have posted on our Website, Eliminate NCLB.org, a letter from Marc Tucker to Hillary Clinton. The letter, received two months prior to her husband taking office, clearly paints an agenda that leads to privatization of our public schools.
Our educators are extremely concerned with the leadership of the National Education Association. We want to make it clear to the officers of NEA and its management team that we will not accept an endorsement for a Presidential candidate who does not fully support public education. Mr. Weaver, if the current proposed NCLB language stands, and is supported by Hillary Clinton or any other presidential candidate, they will not have our support.
Thank you for your time regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
The Task Force to Eliminate NCLB
Pete Lindstrand Lindsay TA/Eliminate NCLB Chairperson
Members of the Task Force to Eliminate NCLB
Kirsten Barnes, Hanford SEA
Pamela Beck, Pleasant View EA
Jackie Buckner, Tulare City TA
Carol Clarke, Visalia UTA
Jackie Crusha, Lemoore El, TA
Tom Douglass, KTUU
Dennis Durbin, Porterville EA
Pearl Gonzales, Farmersville TA
Myndi Hardgrave, Hanford SEA
Wendi Hulbert, Corcoran FA
Karl Kildow, Visalia UTA
Sandy Dana-Kildow, Visalia UTA
Karla Orosco, Central Union El. TA
Michael Rogers, Hanford El. TA
April Silva, Hanford El.TA
301 W. School Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291
TKSCC/KTUU/CTA/NEA
