More From The NEA Representative Assembly

Mucho appreciado to the Education Intelligence Agency, which is providing "gavel to gavel" coverage of the NEA Rep Assembly in Los Angeles. There are so many tidbits I'll just snip them here. Most speak for themselves. BTW, NBI stands for "new business item".

* Delegates approved NBI 13, which reads, "That NEA continue to oppose attempts by billionaire Eli Broad and any other entities to remove elected school boards from cities in California and in any other state or territory." NEA is already on record as opposing mayoral takeovers of school boards, but it is still interesting that Eli Broad is mentioned by name and not the one man who most recently expressed support for a mayoral takeover of a California school board – the darling of the 2005 NEA Representative Assembly, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

*Also unmentioned is the fact that the Broad Foundation is a substantial financial contributor to the Teacher Union Reform Network, to which five California local affiliates of NEA (including UTLA!) belong. Teachers shopping at Wal-Mart is bad, but teacher unions taking money from Broad is OK, as long as you keep it quiet.
* Delegates approved NBI 32, which calls on NEA to study the feasibility of initiating a boycott of Gallo wine.

* After much back and forth, delegates approved NBI 33, which reads, "The NEA will develop a strategic program to help NEA Republican members advance a pro-public education agenda within the Republican Party." The measure was supported by the NEA Republican Educators Caucus, but some individual Republicans among the delegates found the language condescending. I'm unsure how Democrats are going to help Republicans persuade other Republicans, but apparently it can be done for the bargain price of $171,125 of your dues money. * NBI 48 directs NEA to urge universities and colleges not to use the new SAT for admissions purposes, because the writing section "increases the SAT's discriminatory impact."

* Here is my favorite – NBI 51 directs NEA to "create a web-based, research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting misinformation about public education in the U.S. media. This center will systematically monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets for misinformation – news or commentary that is not accurate, reliable, or credible and that fosters a negative image of teachers and public education every day and in real time."

* NBI 58 calls on NEA to advocate for a moratorium on new prison construction. No mention is made of where new prisoners are to be housed, but I'm sure there is some extra space at CTA headquarters in Burlingame.

* NBI 63 is an anti-CAFTA NBI.

Now let's look at a few anti-war measures....

* Delegates defeated NBI 24, after a long debate, which would have required NEA to publish information and links to materials "comparing the actual human and financial costs to education due to expenditures approved by Congress" for the war in Iraq.

* NBI 39 is another anti-war measure, calling on NEA to encourage state and local affiliates to "organize job actions up to and including strikes" in response to "massive cutbacks" caused by "the war budget." [Darren's comment--so let me get this straight. They want more federal money, conceivably from the DoD budget, but they don't want any federal oversight at all, a la NCLB? Got it!]

* NBI 49 speaks for itself -- "The NEA will promote and support the establishment of a federal department of Peace." [Darren's comment--why? Do we have a Department of War? And what is the State Department?]

* NBI 57 and 61 are two more anti-war NBIs.

Mike at EIA--you're providing a valuable service. Thank you!
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