"Instead, NEA leaders allot these funds, taken from membership dues, in order to promote their own political agenda."
Inaccurate. NEA's spending is directed by almost 10,000 representatives from local affiliates around the country at their annual meeting. Who decides the causes PET supports? NEA's PAC funds come from donations teachers contribute, NOT their dues.
"Associations like the Professional Educators of Tennessee are working to more effectively protect the rights and working conditions of educators." Please give an example of one bill PET has promoted that improved the rights and working conditions of educators. Class size? Planning time? Duty-free lunch time? All of those were pushed by TEA. TEA had representatives at every meeting concerning the new evaluation system to share members' views. Did PET?
"TEA's radical liberal agenda." Here's TEA's legislative agenda, which is adopted by vote during its Representative Assembly. http://www.teateachers.org/sites/default/files/legislative-proposals.pdf
It doesn't look too radical: "Daily planning time for all educators within the instructional day. Adequate funding for necessary instructional supplies and equipment."
Liability insurance: Using liability insurance is actually VERY rare. What teachers use MUCH more often is legal assistance. When a TEA member needs legal help, TEA has experienced education lawyers that can assist them at no cost. From PET's website: "Our employment rights insurance reimburses up to $10,000 in defense costs if the member is successful and up to $1,000 regardless of the outcome." $10,000 in defense costs is not very much for a complicated, lengthy case. A divorce can cost that much! TEA members do not have to come up with the money up front and wait to be reimbursed.
Union fails teachers
"Instead, NEA leaders allot these funds, taken from membership dues, in order to promote their own political agenda." Inaccurate. NEA's spending is directed by almost 10,000 representatives from local affiliates around the country at their annual meeting. Who decides the causes PET supports? NEA's PAC funds come from donations teachers contribute, NOT their dues.
"Associations like the Professional Educators of Tennessee are working to more effectively protect the rights and working conditions of educators." Please give an example of one bill PET has promoted that improved the rights and working conditions of educators. Class size? Planning time? Duty-free lunch time? All of those were pushed by TEA. TEA had representatives at every meeting concerning the new evaluation system to share members' views. Did PET?
"TEA's radical liberal agenda." Here's TEA's legislative agenda, which is adopted by vote during its Representative Assembly. http://www.teateachers.org/sites/default/files/legislative-proposals.pdf It doesn't look too radical: "Daily planning time for all educators within the instructional day. Adequate funding for necessary instructional supplies and equipment."
Liability insurance: Using liability insurance is actually VERY rare. What teachers use MUCH more often is legal assistance. When a TEA member needs legal help, TEA has experienced education lawyers that can assist them at no cost. From PET's website: "Our employment rights insurance reimburses up to $10,000 in defense costs if the member is successful and up to $1,000 regardless of the outcome." $10,000 in defense costs is not very much for a complicated, lengthy case. A divorce can cost that much! TEA members do not have to come up with the money up front and wait to be reimbursed.