It's all about the Power

I have documented the power and corruption of the Colorado Springs Education Association (CSEA) in this blog many times. As I have pointed out, the labor union has a literal death grip over the weak administrators and board of education members who are the public face of the school district.

Despite the fact that the CSEA and its national master, the NEA, have formed an operational alliance with the Teamsters Union, local CSEA labor union operatives still attempt to push the notion that the CSEA is not really a union, but rather a “professional organization.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Labor unions rule by force, and the CSEA labor union uses representatives in each school building to enforce teacher and administrator compliance with labor union rules and to spread labor union propaganda. Most of the rules, as I have shown in this blog, are designed to prevent teachers from working too hard and raising the “unfair” expectation that other teachers might have to work equally as hard.

A man named Bob Chanin is retiring as General Counsel of the NEA. He is a mafia-like figure who prides himself in the untold damage he has done to the US public education system. His most valiant efforts have revolved around preventing tax paying parents from having any say in the education that is delivered to their children.

Chanin made his final address to this summer’s NEA conventioneers. In this speech, to raucous applause from the assembled labor union foot soldiers, Chanin said this: “When all is said and done, NEA and its affiliates must never lose sight of the fact that they are unions, and what unions do first and foremost is represent their members.” Yes, unions, not professional organizations.

That is not all Chanin had to say that evening. For those parents and teachers who do not subscribe to the Marxist ideology espoused by the labor union, this is what Chanin thinks of you: “We are not paranoid, someone really is after us. Why are these conservative and right-wing bastards picking on NEA and its affiliates? I will tell you why: it is the price we pay for success."

Do Chanin’s views fall outside of the average NEA member? Not hardly. Back in 1996, the labor union issued a handbook that said, with regards to the “radical right-wing:” “They won't go away. No matter how bizarre we believe their beliefs to be, no matter how illogical and inconsistent their goals appear, and no matter how often we reassure ourselves that 'this too, shall pass,' the political, social, and religious forces that make up the radical right in contemporary American society will not go away."

Yes, just go away, you conservative parents and teachers – just go away. But wait, before you shut your mouths, teachers, just do the union a favor and keep your wallets wide open. Continue to give the labor union your dues and pretend that you are not responsible for funding this radical organization that is one of the largest forces that is destroying this country’s schools. What makes Chanin proud? This: “And we have power because there are more than 3.2 million people who are willing to pay us hundreds of millions of dollars in dues each year." With these millions in dues, surely the labor union must care about your kids, right? Not according to Chanin. Your kids are not the priority. According to Chanin, this is what makes the union effective: “not because of our creative ideas, it is not because of the merit of our positions; it is not because we care about children, and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power."

Just as I have said all along – it was never about your kids; it was always about power. If you have been frustrated about why your teachers are not responsive to you, it is because they are required to answer to a higher purpose, and that purpose is to provide funding and labor to the NEA. All of D11’s labor union members willingly place the labor union’s priorities well above those of you and your children. If you doubt this, ask yourself when it was that you have ever heard a teacher speak out openly against this radical and harmful labor union.

For those parents who care about your child’s education, and for those who do not believe that the future of this country looks brightest under a socialist cloud, join the thousands of other parents in this city who have chosen to take their kids elsewhere to receive a quality education. Stop funding this radical labor union.

The Beginning of a New School Year

Another summer coming to an end in less than a month, and another school year about to begin with fewer and fewer families choosing to utilize School District 11 schools for their students’ education.

The time is right to continue to add to this blog. It was interesting trying to follow the happenings in D11 while I was deployed to Iraq. What stood out the most to me was the validation that the frenzy to remove reform board members was never about improving student achievement; as I said all along, it was all about power for the labor union and for the Progressive majority sponsored board members. The best example to illustrate that point was the lack of outrage when the board decided to close numerous schools with no legitimate neighborhood input. Where was End the Chaos during this debate? Where was the labor union?

There is plenty to write about with regards to the still-sluggish school district, but the big issues can be summarized in just a couple of sentences. First and foremost, and regrettably for the students, the status quo, ‘nothing needs to change academically’ attitude is in full force in the district. Second, despite the Create Chaos organization’s stated goal of electing board members who would all work together, the board members do not share common goals for the district, and they do not get along. You won’t find that story in the Gazette, however, because it is only supposed to be a story when conservatives have disagreements. Third, the board and administration continue to ignore the community. While district personnel are quick to blame parents for academic failures, parents’ input is not welcome with regards to academic issues. Finally, while never openly admitting it, the district inadvertently sang the praises of the reformers as it used district data that was achieved during our tenure to show that D11 was making strong academic gains. This data was used on mailers that the district (illegally) produced in its print shop to push for the mil levy last fall.

Over the past year, I have pulled my kids out of D11 schools, as have thousands of parents. The district does not demand excellence in its staff or its students, it is non-responsive to the community, and discipline is not maintained in the schools. Unfortunately, D11 still gets my property taxes, so I have just as much a right to have a say in the business of the district as every other tax payer. There is plenty to be said.