The State of Education...

I have many friends and clients over in the state of Illinois and this weekend, they were all pretty fired up about a speech given by NEA General Council Bob Chanin.  It seems the speech has found a new life on You-Tube. Below is a revealing quote from his "swan song" speech:

"This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, improving teacher quality and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary. These are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay."

A Democrat State Senator, James Meeks has confronted the NEA and specifically, the Chicago teachers union.  This once private quarrel has now been blasted onto the front pages of the Chicago Tribune for the rest of us to observe.

I salute the refreshing actions of Senator Meeks, who when threatened with a withdrawal of any future financial support, promptly wrote a check for every dime every sent him by the NEA and sent it back.

I suggest you watch the video above and read the link from the Tribune...if this doesn't open your eyes then I don't know what will.