Education Sec Paige calls Teachers Union Terrorists.

[rhino47]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040223/ap_on_go_pr_wh/governors_bush_5

By ROBERT TANNER, AP National Writer

WASHINGTON - Education Secretary Rod Paige called the nation's largest teachers union a "terrorist organization" during a private White House meeting with governors on Monday.
Democratic and Republican governors confirmed Paige's remarks about the National Education Association.


"These were the words, 'The NEA is a terrorist organization,'" said Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin.


Oh I get it now.Anyone that doesnt fall into the fascist line
of the * admin are now terrorist.Hmmm terrorist teaching my kids.
*sarcasm *

[JailForBush]

1. Good for Paige!

This incident has been discussed on several threads, notably http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1152001

I hate Rod Paige, but I also hate the NEA, which did nothing but shit on me and my students for more than a decade.

But it's apparent that my views aren't popular around here. In fact, I think there are even more liberals who support the NEA than support Microsoft.

So maybe Ralph Nader was right after all - there really isn't a difference between Republicans and Democrats. There's nothing "progressive" about supporting corruption.

[A J]

3. There is nothing progressive about likening a union

to terrorists, either. Terrorists kill innocent people. The NEA does not.

[JailForBush]

5. Terrorism isn't just about killing.

In fact, the larger goal is to frighten the masses. In a sense, terrorism can kill people a little bit at a time.

Conventional terrorists kill innocent people. (Many people put George W. Bush in this category.) The NEA helps corporations kill children's dreams.

I know few "progressives" understand this, but then I've never met a progressive who had a clue about education.

[A J]

8. I spent three years as a reporter covering education issues

I think progressives understand education.

They understand it a whole lot more than Conservatives, that is for sure.

Would you like to name any other non-killing terrorist groups? Even so, I would think that the families who lost loved ones in any sort of terrorist attack would gladly trade their losses for just the NEA's dream killing policy.

Calling the NEA "terrorists" is insulting to those who lost loved ones from real terrorist acts.

[JailForBush]

16. An Education Reporter?

Please understand if I'm not quick to shower someone who worked for the MEDIA with respect. What newspaper did you write for - or is that a secret?

"I think progressives understand education. They understand it a whole lot more than Conservatives, that is for sure."

I'm really not sure which group is most clueless about education. Of course, it's the right-wingers who are leading the religious charge - though I'm not really certain if the majority of grassroots conservatives are Bible-thumping creationists.

"Progressives" like to boast that they're protecting schools from corporations, when the corporations have already taken over!

"Even so, I would think that the families who lost loved ones in any sort of terrorist attack would gladly trade their losses for just the NEA's dream killing policy."

Good job of obfuscating the topic.

"Calling the NEA 'terrorists' is insulting to those who lost loved ones from real terrorist acts."

Gee, do you mean it's no longer political correct to call George W. Bush and Microsoft terrorists? If people who have lost loves ones to terrorists are offended by this use of the world, they'd better wake up pretty fast. They've learned the dangers of ignorance first hand.

[A J]

22. Maybe you need to come to Wisconsin...

Wisconsin has the best and the most PROGRESSIVE education system in the country (although republicans have worked hard to bring that level down.)

Madison has rejected corporate influence time and time again. In the smaller cities, where I worked, corporate influence wasn't even a factor.

There are far more pressing issues to deal with in education, like "revenue caps" that limit school spending, and the unfairness of vouchers.

Anyway, my main point is that you can disagree with and dislike the NEA all you want, but they are not TERRORISTS! Teachers unions do not kill people!

A school in my home town was permanently shut down, and kids are now bussed to a neighboring city for their education, thanks to greedy republicans who don't want to spend money on education. You tell those families that republicans and democrats are the same.

And you tell families of terror victims that there losses are the same as a "victim" of a teacher's union.

[11 Bravo]

14. I've been a public school teacher for 30 years,

and a progressive for longer than that. So please, help me out. Is it education about which I have no clue, or is it liberalism in general? I have always enjoyed being analyzed by people who wouldn't know me if they tripped over me.

[mac2]

18. 30 years teaching...thank you.

[11 Bravo]

21. It's funny. I'll never be a wealthy man in a material sense,

but every day I get up and I actually look forward to going to work. How many people can say that about their jobs? The thanks are appreciated, but I actually love what I do.

[A J]

26. Terrorism isn't just about killing...

It is also about having meetings. People in the NEA have meetings too, so I guess I see your point.

-mucho sarcasm-

[rhino47]

6. Hiya A J welcome to DU

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[BiggJawn]

4. Shirley you Jest?

Obviously you're in the minority with your dislike of the NEA.
That still doesn't make Nader "right"

Nobody's holding a gun (another device owned by more Liberals than you'd realise) to your head to stay here, y'know.

[JailForBush]

7. I'm also in the minority in that I have a clue about education.

And there was indeed a lot of truth to Ralph Nader's statement - even if he's part of the same team. It becomes increasingly difficult to vote for Democrats even as the lesser of evils.

Campaign 2004 has been sadly watered down with the loss of Howard Dean, and I've learned that only a minority of DU'ers recognize the truth about the National Education Association and Microsoft - two of the greatest examples of corporate corruption.

Nobody's forcing you to listen to the truth, either.

By the way, I'd be careful about making statements that might be interpreted as threats; e.g. "a device owned by more liberals than you'd realise." It doesn't bother me, but your post might get censored for inciting violence.

[mac2]

12. You and most of Congress...publically educated..

and yet you seem to think you know better? Yes..get corporate power out of schools. Parents can do this locally if they want. No one is stopping them from doing what they should do..be responsible parents.

[JailForBush]

17. You mean "publicly"?

You wrote, "You and most of Congress...publically educated.. and yet you seem to think you know better?"

You mispelled PUBLICLY, and your statement is illogical. You seem to be saying that a person who was educated in public schools can't recognize the problems in public schools.

In fact, I graduated from high school about thirty years ago, when education wasn't nearly as corrupt as it is today. But that's really irrelevant; there are kids in high school today who could tell you how screwed up education is.

"Yes..get corporate power out of schools. Parents can do this locally if they want. No one is stopping them from doing what they should do..be responsible parents."

No argument there.

[LiberalFighter]

27. And it isn't teachers that are condoning corporate power

Who approves the products sold in vending machines?
Who approves corporate sponsor of "televised education" with mandatory commercials?
Who approves fast food sales in lieu of nutritional cafeteria food?

The last I knew teachers don't decide that issue. It is the school administrators.

[mike_c]

15. ok, I'll bite...

...since I've got ten minutes or so before I have to get ready for class. I'm a professional educator too, as well as a working scientist and as progressive a liberal as the night is long, IMHO. I'm a member of the California Faculty Association and by default, the California Teachers Association. I'm not a member of the NEA unless by some twist my CTA membership makes me some sort of ghost affiliate).

My position is that the NEA should function as an advocate for teachers and for improving the quality of education, but that it should not lobby on behalf of educational policy except in so far as it directly supports those objectives. Bit of a grey area, I realize, but when teachers begin feeling dumped upon by their foremost national advocacy agency, something is wrong.

On the other hand, Paige's remarks simply serve to underline what should be abundantly clear by now-- unless you're a wealthy Republican donor, you are "the enemy" of this administration.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. The Truth, Huh?

The truth because you say it's the truth? How convenient!

There are several teachers here at DU, and i'm married to one. I'm a grad school educator as well. So, you're not the only one that knows something about education.

Try to remember that when you decide that anyone who doesn't agree with you must be ignorant.
The Professor

[BiggJawn]

24. Not even a literalist would interpet that as a "threat"

"holding a gun to your head" is a "figure of speech".

But you knew that, being the brilliant former Dean, now Nader supporter that you are, didn't you? <sarcasm>.

Go listen to Howard again. I understand he said some very important and relevant things about the new "contender".

Or are you in the "Fuck you, Howard, you QUITTER!" camp?

[LiberalFighter]

25. A labor union does not exist without the consent of its members!

You voted for your local officers.
You proposed resolutions for delegates to vote on.
You voted for delegates to attend constitutional conventions.
You voted for your national/international officers.
You attended local union meetings to bring up issues.
You are involved in local union committees that make a difference to your local union, your community and your schools.
You participated in events that bring out the issues important to the education of children and the community.
You voted for the candidates endorsed by your officers or at least considered the issues vital to the children and your profession.

or you supported corruption by standing on the side doing nothing.

The NEA is only as good as you and your fellow members.

[BiggJawn]

2. Maybe because they won't embrace "Creationism" as "Science"?

There I go, pissing off the Xians again...

Seriously, that's what they want to implant into the minds of parents. Your little impressionable darlings are being sent off each day to be indoctrinated by Gay-friendly anti-Jeebus UNION MEMBERS!!! Help us(the GOP) defeat these dark forces! Call your congress-critter and DEMAND school vouchers and tax credits for Home Schools TODAY!

<sarcasm> (my usual mode now)

[mac2]

10. NO!!

[salinen]

11. BJ

just broke through the front line for a first down.

[mac2]

9. Unions and Public education aren't in crisis....

The budget and greedy religious leaders are.

Go to Americans United for Separation of Chruch and State and read about the status of public education in this country. It was getting better before Bush.

Religious schools and private ones hire teachers trained in public colleges and univeristies. They aren't always the best ones because, there is less pay and benefits, etc.

Religious schools and private ones aren't held accountable or even take the required tests. They aren't better according to a study done in Cleveland comparing their public schools to religious ones...taking the same tests.

It's all a myth to ruin public education. The religious right want our tax dollars for their own message and power. They are going to force it on us. This is not good for education or democracy.

Best point against private schools: Bush was educated his whole life in private schools. Did this make him a better educated or moral person?

[JailForBush]

19. Open Your Eyes!

"Unions and Public education aren't in crisis...."

Oh, yes they are.

"Go to Americans United for Separation of Chruch and State and read about the status of public education in this country. It was getting better before Bush."

Baloney! Education took a nose dive under Clinton. Bush may be making things even worse, but it was clearly going downhill - probably long before Clinton even.

"Religious schools and private ones hire teachers trained in public colleges and univeristies."

Likewise, public schools sometimes hire teachers who graduated from private schools.

"Religious schools and private ones aren't held accountable or even take the required tests. They aren't better according to a study done in Cleveland comparing their public schools to religious ones...taking the same tests."

Public schools aren't really held accountable, either. Teachers and students are "punished," while school officials get a free ride. That's not accountability.

"It's all a myth to ruin public education. The religious right want our tax dollars for their own message and power. They are going to force it on us. This is not good for education or democracy."

It isn't just the religious right. Public schools are being taken over by CORPORATIONS - the same corporations that control both the Republican and Democratic parties.

"Best point against private schools: Bush was educated his whole life in private schools. Did this make him a better educated or moral person?"

Anecdotal. The late retired general and Superintendent John Stanford - the George Bush of Education - was educated in public schools. He was a world class moron, too.

[woo me with science]

13. I can't tell you how sick I am

of all these diversions from the real issues. Yeah, Paige said something stupid....but now there're reports that Kerry has said similar things about the RNC. It's just rhetoric! It's stupid, ill-advised rhetoric, but if the Dems start going after this, they're just going to get shot back, because people will come up with examples of our over-the-top rhetoric.

For god's sake, will people talk about the issues already, instead of trying to tear each other apart personally all the time?

[JailForBush]

20. Wow, a rare sensible statement on an education thread!

I can't tell you how sick I am of all these diversions from the real issues. Yeah, Paige said something stupid....It's just rhetoric!"

That's exactly what I've been trying to point out. The words may mask a sinister agenda, but no one is accusing the NEA of planning conventional terrorist attacks. One of my threads was banned because it "incited violence." Sheez, I simply quoted a former Oklahoma Governor who joked that the best way to deal with their teachers union was "homicide."

I understand what he REALLY meant, and I'm in complete agreement. Whether the Governor was a right-wing wacko or a progressive pinhead is really irrelevant.