Wake Up The NEA

The CTA Steal Rights

2006-01-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

Amazing news given to us through Right On the Left Coast.

California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer said Monday that school districts have no right telling parents their children are leaving campus to receive confidential medical treatment.

This opinion overturns recent movements at local levels to overturn so-called “medical emancipation” statutes that allow California minors to disappear from school campuses to seek medical attention.

In September, Rocklin Unified School District became the latest in a growing number of California school districts that chose to restrict their students from leaving campus without parental authorization. Parents in Placer County popularly supported the ruling. Parents from El Dorado County, who fought the statutes last spring, lauded the actions of their neighbors.

Yet, with so much passion from parent groups and anti-abortion activists, the issue appears to be over. Unless the Democratically controlled Legislature rescinds the statutes, the attorney general’s opinion indirectly voids any school code-forbidding students from confidentially seeking medical treatment.

Although parent’s rights advocates believe they deserve the right to know where their children go after dropping them off at school, state courts have long upheld statutes allowing minors to keep their health decisions private. State law allows minors to receive AIDS testing, abortions, drug treatment, psychological analysis, and medical therapy without having to inform their guardians.

Amazingly, it sounds similar to the Teen Screen program being done in public schools across the nation.

TeenScreen - The Making of Mental Patients
Monday, January 2, 2006
Chicago Independent Media Center
By Sandra Lucas

In October, 2004, after taking TeenScreen, a 10-minute computer test developed in the psychiatric department of Columbia University, 16-year-old Chelsea Rhoades of Indiana was told she had two mental health problems, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder. The diagnoses were based upon Chelsea's responses that she liked to help clean the house and didn't "party" much.

Chelsea is one of countless children who get labeled with fraudulent diagnoses every day. The difference in her case is that her parents, who were unaware that TeenScreen had infiltrated their daughter's school and had not given permission for the screening, reacted quickly. They filed a lawsuit against the officials of the high school who allowed the test to be administered and the TeenScreen program. In doing so, the Rhoades took a stand for all parents across the nation.

The Rebelution points out something very interesting in the latter part of the article:

"The goal of TeenScreen is one item they are not afraid to reveal: to provide mental health screening for every single American teen. If TeenScreen's goal is achieved, all 19,800,000 youths will receive a "mental health checkup". Considering that 71% of teens who were screened in Colorado were labeled with a mental disorder, should TeenScreen succeed in its goal, it is possible that 71% of our teens would end up being labeled. This means that no less than 14,058,000 American youth would end up labeled mentally ill. Since nine out of ten children who receive "treatment" are given mind-altering psychiatric drugs, the inevitable conclusion is that 12,652,200 would be drugged.

The average price of a prescription for psychiatric drugs is $102 per month. TeenScreen's endeavors would increase the pharmaceutical companies' monthly revenues by $1,290,524,400."

Scary things are happening in your school system, and you need to know about them and respond to them.

Check and see if Teen Screen is in your area and expose the scam.

Lioberal Teacher's Pet

2006-01-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

From the Wall Street's Opinion Journal:

If we told you that an organization gave away more than $65 million last year to Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Amnesty International, AIDS Walk Washington and dozens of other such advocacy groups, you'd probably assume we were describing a liberal philanthropy. In fact, those expenditures have all turned up on the financial disclosure report of the National Education Association, the country's largest teachers union.

Under new federal rules pushed through by Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, large unions must now disclose in much more detail how they spend members' dues money. Big Labor fought hard (if unsuccessfully) against the new accountability standards, and even a cursory glance at the NEA's recent filings--the first under the new rules--helps explain why. They expose the union as a honey pot for left-wing political causes that have nothing to do with teachers, much less students.

We already knew that the NEA's top brass lives large. Reg Weaver, the union's president, makes $439,000 a year. The NEA has a $58 million payroll for just over 600 employees, more than half of whom draw six-figure salaries. Last year the average teacher made only $48,000, so it seems you're better off working as a union rep than in the classroom.

You've got to love it.

***
We were late on this news, but we're back up in running, mainly as a case-study for Agent Tim Online. We will be posting some past evidence of NEA liberalism and of course way too many reasons to work to "Wake Them Up" from their liberal dreams.

The NEA vs. Teachers-

2005-10-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting article about the NEA. It seems they want to promote the Gay Rights Groups! Does this mean students in public schools are soon going to be taught..."Gay Sex?"

I know I wouldn't want to hear any class about that!

"The NEA attempts to promote the cause of gay rights groups through the curricula it endorses for sex education courses while the union tries to advance its position on abortion through financial support for pro-choice groups."

So I know I am asking myself, "What is this world coming to?". Read this article for yourself and I am sure you will have to run to the bathroom.

I want to thank Tim, and Kara for letting me post! I look forward to serving you!
LS4C

Around the Blogosphere

2005-09-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

Saturday Education Wonk's posted this. In the post, you are pointed to some more posts to read.

I regret to say...

2005-09-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

That I can no longer post here. I can put pictures up from time to time, but due to school, and my decision to pursue other goals, we are in dire need of another blogger here to help Kara write and wake up the NEA at least every other day. Can you make that commitment?

We need your help today!

Ta Ta For Now...

Sad.

2005-09-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

And they think homeschoolers are indoctrinated?

Unions Slam Bush for Working on Labor Day

2005-09-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

Heh. That would happen wouldn't it?

Going Inside the NEA Headquarters: Non-Union Labor?

2005-09-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

Gasp! You have got to be kidding me. Check out Educational Wonks for more.

Edwonk, I'll have to check this out for myself the next time I head into D.C. Under cover, of course. They'd shoot me on site if I told them who I was (oh my, wouldn't that be a story!).

Talk about hypocrisy.

Check this out

2005-09-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Read this press release from the Independence Institute. Apparently, while the Colorado Education Association is participating in the Wake up the Wal-Mart program, their pension fund has 3 million shares of Wal-Mart stock. Now, that's irony. Here's another article Blake: CEA's Dirty Little Secret.

In our continuing discussion of union dues, here's something from the Heartland Institute on Colorado dues: Colorado Teacher Unions Revise PAC Deduction Policies.

Do your homework for Katrina relief!

2005-09-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

You can go to Charity Navigator to find out how well charities rate with how they use their funds. It tells you which charities get the most of your dollars to the people who need it. My plan is to give to two different high ranking charities. So many charities are crooked these days that I hope to increase my odds of getting the money to the right place by spreading it out. It's a sad commentary on our society.

Left In Big Trouble Now

2005-08-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

What? You don't like Walmart?

Well, it seems that Walmart happens to be the leader in helping with disaster relief:

"The company that the Left loves to hate is taking the lead. Wal-Mart 1) already gave $1 million to the Salvation Army, 2) is using all 3,800 stores to raise money, 3) is sending trucks and trucks of supplies (many of which they don't even account for) as we speak, and 4) have already gotten a store in Kenner, LA open for supplies."

Go figure. Help disaster relief by spending your money at Walmart today...you'll be helping disaster relief as well as helping us Wake Up The NEA.

And don't forget to tell us about it!

Union Dues - installment one

2005-08-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've read quite a bit about how union dues are spent. I think the teachers could spend the money better themselves. So let's take a look at what is out there on the net and decide for ourselves.

Link number 1:Washington State Teacher's Union got caught using dues in an illegal (and unethical) manner. Now, they want to place a gag order on the teachers who attended a recent union arbitration meeting. You can read about it here Teachers Union Seeks Gag Order in Dispute Over Dues.

Link number 2:Over at Education Wonks facts and figures are given about how much their union dues are going up and why. I'm glad I'm not counting on teaching in California to put food on the table.
Union Accountability: The CTA Edition

Link number 3: This from 1997 in Pennsylvania shows this is not a new problem State Teacher Union Must Prove Cost Of Collective Bargaining To Federal Court. Here's the second installment Teacher Union Settles Lawsuit to Avoid Exposing Political Spending Operation

Link number 4: This is from 2003. New Teacher Union Scandals Exposed

Note to reader: I expected to have a huge impressive list for this blog entry. However, I only get two minutes here and three minutes there to work on it. I've decided to work installments. I might try and find an entry for each state. If you know of anything to add, drop me a comment. Anecdotal information is welcome.

Teachers Should Leave Walmart Alone

2005-08-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed. More on union dues later.

2005-08-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable...

2005-08-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Check out this article in the Washington Times. Teachers Union Mortgage Will Finance Campaign. All the money those California teachers are paying into the union and now they are in debt over this.

Just to clarify...

2005-08-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

As I help Agent Tim out over here at the Wake Up the NEA blog I want to make a few things clear. I like teachers, well, most of them anyway. After all, I was educated in both the public school system and at a Parochial school. I worked with children all but two of the years I was out in the work force. I love working with children and I understand the challenges of working with children and their parents. People who work with children deserve our respect and admiration.

It is assumed by many that I don't like teachers because I homeschool. I think it is easier to lump someone into a category than to think about the points they are making. Please don't attack me, read my thoughts and let's have a discussion. I read a comment on another blog about the Wake Up the NEA blog, bloggers and some who have been getting the word out. It was not a kind attitude. It was really intolerant. There is no way from reading what articles we link to and sources we cite that another human can know our political persuasion, religious affiliations etc. (Maybe we should have a guess my religion contest.)I think people would be surprised by my affiliations. I can read blogs and have discussions with people who don't share my beliefs. I enjoy having a dialogue with both sides. I like to try to see something from someone else's perspective.

I think that we need to tear down the impediments to having a highly literate society that has basic math skills. The NEA is not the whole problem with the system. I think the union's agenda puts up serious roadblocks that have to be tackled to make important changes. It's a starting point. Stay tuned as we examine the changes that need to happen with the NEA for our public schools to be successful. We're going to throw out ideas and bat them around. We're going to try and think inside and outside the box. I refuse to give up on public education. This is the United States of America in the year 2005. The citizens of this country do amazing things everyday. We need to chalk up how we educate our children into our amazing accomplishments column.

AAE vs. NEA

2005-08-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

We really like teachers. We like people who are there to educate and really instill a love for learning in kids. Personally, I do not believe that the Public Schools are doing that in the way that they should, and one of the key reasons is the NEA.

It seems that the Association of American Educators, reccomended by James Dobson and (uh...oops) Pat Robertson, has fallen under the NEA's displeasure in the past. Here's a clip of a longer defense of the AAE:

"The NEA says… The AAE "has a hidden - and very political - agenda!"

AAE: False! We are incorporated as a professional trade association, not a lobbying organization. We do not become overly involved in politics, and couldn’t afford to, even if we wanted to, with such an economical dues structure. Ironically, it is the NEA that won’t accept the fact that many of their own members would like their leaders to concentrate on educational issues and stay out of social engineering politics."

It's very interesting.

Funniest Movie of the Year

2005-08-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Walmart: The Hight Cost of Low Price.

You'll get a kick out of that trailer. I can't wait for that to come out.

We'll keep you updated, but now we're moving on from talking about Walmart alone, to examining the NEA carefully, and really attempting to "Wake them up."

Why We Dislike The NEA

2005-08-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well, this is just part of it.

"For each of the 75,396 members of...[WEA (NEA's Washington state affiliate)], $683 in wages is automatically withheld as 'dues' each year—a staggering $51,495,468 per year. Based on our investigations, no more than 20 percent of that amount is actually being used for traditional, chargeable union functions, such as collective bargaining [or] maintenance of the contract and grievances. The rest, $41,196,375 is used for other, mainly political purposes. This means one union in one state has more than $80 million to spend per two year election cycle. That is six to eight times the amount spent from voluntary sources by Republicans and Democrats in Washington State."

Politics above kids? Money above men? No, we don't like that at all.

I've been daydreaming...

2005-08-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

What if a grassroots effort took hold to start a new teacher's union? A union that was democratic and responded to the needs of the teachers. A union that spends the teacher's dues wisely.
Maybe we need unions for this century and we need to think of a way to make that happen. The problems that face today's workers aren't the problems that faced previous generations. The current unions are political animals that are "high" with their political power and their executive decisions. The NEA thinks they know what is best for our children and our teachers. Well, teachers and children are leaving the system and going elsewhere. It seems to me that a small group of people hold power in the teachers' unions and the rank and file are unhappy. It's time for a revolution! Teachers need new union options and the public needs to work with the teachers to change the laws that make it necessary for teachers to join the unions.

Dunce of The Week Award Goes To...

2005-08-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yeah, you guessed it. The NEA.

As Forbes said: "The NEA claims with no evidence that the discount chain has "drained billions from public coffers, money that could otherwise fund schools." This shows two things: Politics trumps children's welfare at the NEA; and the country's largest teacher's union hates market economics."

And that's why they really deserve this award. The real facts can be found on our pro-Walmart blogroll on the sidebar.

Manure Theives

2005-08-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

No, not Walmart. The Gastorf's are the theives.

Via email:

Wal-Mart Charges $175 for 'Stolen' Manure
Mon Aug 22, 7:52 AM ET

BROWNSVILLE, Ore. - It could have happened to anyone: Charles Gastorf and his wife, Cheryl, forgot to pay the $10 tab for 10 bags of steer manure during a recent shopping trip to their local Wal-Mart.

The two say that in the confusion of shopping on that March day they simply forgot to add in the cost of the manure. When the Gastorfs explained their forgetfulness to Lebanon City Attorney Tom McHill, he dropped shoplifting charges against them.

That could have been the end of the story — except for the letter from the world's largest retailer that soon arrived in their mailbox, demanding $175 in civil damages.

That's when the Gastorfs learned about a little-known Oregon law that allows retailers to pursue civil penalties regardless of whether a person is found guilty or innocent of theft.

The Gastorfs — who live in a manufactured home and are retired — spoke to an attorney, who told them that challenging the action in court could cost them several thousand dollars, much more than the $175 civil claim.

So the Gastorfs paid Wal-Mart the money.

"We wouldn't want to embark on a life of crime at our ages and become manure thieves. I mean, if you were going to steal something, would you steal manure?" Gastorf said.

But Shardon Weber, a spokeswoman for Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart, told The Albany Democrat Herald that the company has decided to refund the Gastorfs' $175.

"It simply seems like the right thing to do," she said.

***

But we're still behind them!
(Boston Globe has the story)

Where it all started...

2005-08-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Right here on Spunkyhomeschool.

2005-08-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

2005-08-22T04:19:00.000-07:00

"I deserve a better education."--Michigan joins "Wake Up Walmart" campaign.

How about homeschooling?

Oops.

2005-08-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, you will notice the sidebar is fixed.

As I said in my email:

"Kevin,

I just realized my mistake there...my apologies. I saw you linked on an anti-Walmart blog and assumed too quickly. I’ll get that fixed.

Thanks!

Tim"

And yes, it's fixed! Glad to see another pro-Walmart blog.

Wal-Mart's Response to "Send Wal-Mart Back to School"

2005-08-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

We've got the story. They've got the facts.

UPDATE: Oh, wait. Do they have the real facts?

NEA: Politicizing 'education'

2005-08-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

David Limbaugh on World Net Daily. Check it out. It gives the early history of what this blog is about.

2005-08-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

Click for larger image.

2005-08-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

2005-08-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

2005-08-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Send the NEA Back to School?

2005-08-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

"Why Walmart?", you say.

Here's the NEA's reasons.

"Why Wal-Mart?
Wal-Mart profits fund the anti-public education movement. The founding family of Wal-Mart, which is worth more than $90 billion—more than Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined—has dedicated the bulk of its philanthropy to pushing school vouchers, tuition tax credits and other anti-public education initiatives. The Walton family has given more than $250 million to such efforts over the past six years and plans to increase its giving dramatically in the near future.

Wal-Mart is anti-worker. Wal-Mart’s management staunchly opposes the rights of its employees to form a union. It trains managers to recognize signs of union organizing and rushes anti-union squads to any store with signs of union activity. When despite these efforts, groups of employees voted to form a union, Wal-Mart closed a store and eliminated an entire division in all its stores to get rid of the employees who voted to unionize. Management has shown its willingness to take extreme measures to keep unions out of Wal-Mart stores.
The Walton family also funds anti-worker causes, such as the National Right To Work Foundation and state legislative “right-to-work” campaigns.

Taxpayers subsidize Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart claims its stores boost local economies, the stores actually cost taxpayers more than they generate. (And the money taken out of the public treasury for these costs is money that could support public education.)
· A Congressional report estimates that because of Wal-Mart’s low wages and inferior employee benefits, a 200-employee Wal-Mart store costs federal taxpayers $420,750 a year. That sum includes $36,000 for free and reduced school lunches; $42,000 for housing assistance; $125,000 for federal tax credits and deductions for low-income families; $100,000 for Title 1; $108,000 for the federal share of state children’s health program costs; $9,750 for low income energy assistance.
· A 2004 report documents that Wal-Mart has received more than $1 billion in state and local subsidies in the form of tax breaks, free land, grants and tax-exempt bond financing as incentives to open new stores.
· Because more than half of Wal-Mart’s employees either do not qualify for or cannot afford the company’s health insurance plan, taxpayers end up subsidizing the health care of Wal-Mart employees and their families. California spends $32 million each year on health care for Wal-Mart workers. In Georgia, over 10,000 children of Wal-Mart employees rely on state-funded health care. In Tennessee more than 9,000 Wal-Mart workers—one-quarter of the company’s total employees in the state—are enrolled in the TennCare low-income medical program. In Alabama and at least seven other states, Wal-Mart tops the list of the largest state employers whose employees receive publicly funded health care.

Wal-Mart is bad for American small businesses and communities. Wal-Mart’s low prices come at a steep cost to the quality of life in communities, driving local stores out of business. An Iowa State University study found that after a Wal-Mart opens, sales at competing local small businesses decline, and many are unable to survive.
In addition to eliminating Main Street as a viable commercial entity, Wal-Mart also eliminates American jobs. The company is China’s eighth largest trading partner, bigger than countries like England and Russia. Last year alone, Wal-Mart imported $18 billion in products from China.

What Is the Campaign Doing? — And What Can We Do?
KNOW THE FACTS
Wake-Up Wal-Mart, a campaign initiated by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), is working to educate people about Wal-Mart’s practices and their effects on America. The campaign website, www.wakeupwalmart.com, provides much more information.

GET MORE INVOLVED

NEA is providing resources and sample materials (i.e., letters to the editor, fact sheets, etc.) for you to use to spread the word about this campaign. We are also working with companies that support public schools to offer discounts on school supplies to school employees. To find out more about the work NEA is doing, visit www.nea.org/topics/walmart.html.

The “Wake-Up Wal-Mart” website, located at www.wakeupwalmart.com, also connects you with others in your communities who are organizing to pressure the company to change its practices. Another major effort this summer, coordinated by Change America, is to urge people to send a message to Wal-Mart that they disapprove of the company’s anti-worker behaviors and profits to fund anti-public education activities. This message will be sent by not buying back to school supplies at Wal-Mart. The Change America website (www.changeamerica.com) has more information about this effort and alternative places to shop.

BUT THE DECISION IS YOURS

NEA has provided you with the facts about Wal-Mart’s anti-worker tactics and the ways that Wal-Mart profits support anti-public education activities. We also recognize that Wal-Mart’s low prices make it an appealing place to shop. We realize that in some areas of the country, where local stores have been driven out of business, there are no easy alternatives. We respect our members’ judgment on these issues. We hope that before you shop you’ll think about what you’re supporting with your hard-earned money. And we invite you to visit the above websites and become involved in the campaign to make the largest company in the world a better corporate citizen.

Thanks for all that you do every day to make great public schools for every child."

Short version of NEA Memo: Wal-Mart stinks. Don't buy from them. But the choice is up to you.

Feel free to use images.