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If you have any doubt as to the direction public education is going in America, this should help clear your mind.
The president of the largest teachers union in the United States called abortion a “fundamental freedom” and vowed to defend the “right to choose” after warning of what she called a “radicalized Supreme Court” at the annual meeting of the National Education Association.
And she promised to "protect the students."
From what?
From whom?
Be informed, not misled.
More than 6,000 delegates gathered both in-person and virtually at the 2022 NEA Representative Assembly in Chicago, which concluded Wednesday, where several measures were ultimately passed on a range of hot-button topics, but none more heated than the issue of what the union called “reproductive rights” following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
NEA President Becky Pringle was very clear with her message to the teachers, to the parents, and to Americans in general.
The NEA press release includes her remarks. It begins with “You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world, and you have to do it all the time.”
She then quotes Marxist activist Angela Davis---who was once on the FBI's "Most Wanted" list for her involvement in the murder of a judge---she was later acquitted of murder charges.
For half a century, the writer and educator, Professor Angela Davis has called on this nation to bring its practices into full alignment with its promises; to create a society where equity and justice are the rules, not the exception. After a lifetime of struggle, this longtime activist has not abandoned hope. She continues to believe this nation will one day develop the capacity to transform boundaries into bridges. NEA, as the bridge-builders for 50 million public school students, and with the rights of so many Americans at risk, we must share that view Professor Davis holds dear: Whether it is a mind, a heart, a school, a community, or our world, transformation is always possible!
Becky's Bridge.
Where in the world is this woman trying to take American public education and the 50 million kids entrusted to it, that, should she have her way, will cross her bridge?
Pringle says, "We have known since the 2016 election, that this day would come; we would feel the effects of a radicalized Supreme Court issuing decisions that do not reflect the views or values of the majority of Americans. We knew the ground had shifted, and the stage had been set to move us further away from the promise of America for all Americans."
While addressing the issues of abortion, prayer in schools, school vouchers, and LGBTQ rights, she is intently focused on abortion and LGBTQ issues.
And of course the upcoming elections.
Ms. Pringle promised, "We will say gay. We will say trans," referring to Florida's "Parental Rights on Education" law prohibiting sexual orientation or gender identity curricula in kindergarten through 3rd grade.
The 6,000 followed her direction and voted to "take all necessary steps" to overturn the Florida law and others like it.
Pringle also vowed to leverage the NEA's considerable political clout to hold lawmakers accountable. Accountable to what?
She promised, "If you stand against our students, we will stand against you. If you vote against our educators, we will vote against you. This November, if you get in the way of our progress toward a more just nation, we will get in the way of your election."
Ambiguity is not a weakness of this person.
Takeaway
As I read the text of her speech and the texts of other business matters, a couple of things struck my mind.
First, her most elevated hero seems to be, without question, activist Angelia Davis.
The New York Times reported in 1972 that Angela Davis was a member of the Communist Party and owned the sawed-off shotgun that was used to murder a Marin County judge who was being held, hostage.
And the Times said this:
Miss Davis attracted national attention in 1969 when she was dismissed from her teaching job at the University of California at Los Angeles after admitting membership in the Communist party.
The charges against her were lodged late in August 1970, shortly after Jonathan Jackson, 17, smuggled guns into a Marin County courtroom in San Rafael, Calif, and armed three black convicts. They then attempted to escape by using a judge, an assistant district attorney, and three women jurors as hostages.
The judge was taken hostage with a shotgun taped to his neck. He died in the getaway vans outside the civic center along with Jackson and two of the three convicts who participated in the escape. There was always a question as to how the shooting began and in the evidence presented during the trial, this remained a question.
Although the judge was shot in the head with a blast from the shotgun, he also suffered a chest wound from a bullet that may have been fired from outside the van. Evidence during the trial showed, however, that either could have been fatal.
Miss Davis was connected with the case when it was learned that the guns smuggled into the court were registered in her name.
I repeat. Angela Davis is held in high esteem by Becky Pringle, who is the lead drummer for the National Education Association.
And there's one more thing I noticed.
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization. It represents more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, school administrators, etc.
In closing, Becky Pringle said, "Look up, NEA. You get to be the champions for our students."
However, her speech said little to nothing about the children other than her commitment to fully indoctrinate them regarding abortion and the LGBTQ+ agenda.
"Look up, NEA. You get to defend our democracy."
In what way does the NEA "defend democracy?"
"Look up, NEA. The sun is still shining. We will not be defeated. We will never give up; we will never give in! Every day, all day, we will stay centered in the work we have been called to do together. Every day, all day we will embrace our resistance as joy."
"The work" they have been called to do is apparently to resist the traditional values upon which our country and its public education system were founded. Principles and values that made America the envy of the world---blessed, free, and prosperous.
If these founding principles and values are so deficient, why is their "transformed" American public education in a free fall of failure?
Becky's bridge, it seems, leads to full-time activism, rather than gainful employment.
Her's is a bridge to nowhere, but the rocky shores of the Sirens in Homer's epic poem.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.