Recently I had the privilege of working on the State Resolutions
Committee for Farm Bureau which represents about one million voters.
I took the list of issues that our teachers had cited as concerns to
the committee. Those issues were accepted and adopted by the
delegates from every county in Tennessee. They are stated as
follows:
Programs should provide greater educational opportunities and
incentives for exceptional students. The needs of all students in a
classroom should be considered when determining whether a “special
needs”student will be included in a regular program. An educational
impact statement on other students in a classroom should give either
a positive or neutral effect before moving the special needs student
into that classroom.
Continually disruptive, violent, and abusive children must not be
left in the “regular”classroom.
The requirements for a minor to attend school as a condition for that
minor to obtain and retain a driver’s license should be modified to
include behavior and academic requirements.
The Internet is an excellent educational tool, if used properly. Some
material accessed through Internet is unsuitable for students.
Software should be installed to prevent access to Internet sites and
other communications systems at Tennessee public schools and
universities to keep students and faculty from accessing pornographic
materials and materials which incite violence.
Your voice is being heard! We have been in touch with our lawmakers.
We are being well received by everyone we have encountered. We
welcome your input, so speak out!
Billie Sue Hamilton, President of PET
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Johnson County - Doris Luntsford Curd, a
teacher in the elementary grades in Mountain City, TN, has been
recognized as Johnson County’s Teacher of the Year for 1995-1996. The
State of Tennessee, Department of Education, has awarded this
certificate in recognition of this teacher’s superior skill and
dedication to improving the quality of teaching and learning in
Tennessee. Mrs. Curd is a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University.
She has received graduate credit from Appalachian State University,
Walters State University, Radford University, and East Tennessee
State University. We applaud her honor and her professionalism.
Bradley County - J.C. Bowman, a teacher at
Trewhitt Jr. High School, was presented the National Performance
Review recognition certificate, signed by Al Gore, Vice President of
the United States, for J.C.’s contribution to building a government
that works better and costs less. J.C. is a graduate of Lee College
and did his graduate work at Trevecca Nazarene College. He is
currently the PET board member responsible for government relations.
He also serves as legislative liaison for his local affiliate, BCAPE.
Congratulations, Mr. Bowman!
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In this well documented report the teachers union has emerged as the
major obstacle to school reform. Its California affiliate spent an
astounding $12 million to defeat the 1993 Proposition 174 voucher
proposal. In its spare time the union fights attempts to limit taxes,
to cut government spending and even to curb illegal immigration. Its
agenda, in short, is more political than educational.
Like all unions, the NEA is a legally sanctioned attempt to
monopolize a particular labor supply. But, unlike private sector
unions, the NEA is a monopoly on top of a monopoly. The only consumer
is the government-dominated kindergarten-to-12th-grade education
industry. This relationship gives the NEA privileged access to public
policy making - arguably unconstitutionally - and an indisputable
incentive to develop its political muscle.
So obvious is this potential for abuse that public sector
unionization was long viewed as unthinkable even by labor allies like
Franklin D. Roosevelt. But these scruples were abandoned around 1960.
In return for union support, the Kennedy Administration allowed
federal employees collective bargaining. State governments
capitulated about the same time.
Coming out of a labor-dominated state, NEA President Keith Geiger and
other members of his tight-knit “Michigan Mafia”were able to convert
the NEA from professional association into union - so slickly that
press, public, and even some NEA members still appear unaware of what
has happened.
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Greg Cain, Teacher at Trewhitt Jr. High
BCAPE
I am continuously amazed at the way people in this depraved
age can sit in ethical garbage pits while believing they are actually
bathed in a high moral atmosphere because they are so “tolerant.”I
wonder if it has occurred to any in the NEA that this belief has been
manipulated for a purpose which they do not understand and toward an
end they cannot anticipate. The replacement of the traditional
American holiday Thanksgiving with the term Diversity Day is a slap
at the heritage of this great country, not to mention God.
America which at one time reflected the concept of a “melting pot”has
deteriorated into cultural insanity. The homosexual agenda has taken
the legitimate concerns of various ethnic groups and used them as a
tool to push an immoral agenda across this country, in the guise of
“tolerance.”Well there will be no tolerance in my home if it
conflicts with the Bible. Romans Chapter 1 and Genesis Chapter 19 is
all I need to guide me to show that homosexuality was wrong, is
wrong, and always will be wrong. So despite whatever package the
National Education Association tries to use to promote a natural
preference for one’s own gender, I am not buying it.
Citizens should be concerned about their children’s teacher, if they
espouse the beliefs of the National Education Association. While it
may be convenient for these teachers to excuse their behaviors by
simply saying, I am only a member. The truth is, their money supports
the entire NEA social and political agenda. What is next on the
tolerance agenda? Pedophilia? Bestiality? Why not be tolerant of
everything including drugs, gangs, or whatever perversion someone
believes in? The Word of God simply does not make all beliefs
equal.
The holidays, according to Andy Williams, suggest “It’s The Most
Wonderful Time of the Year... Macy’s Parade... Football Games...
Family... Santa Claus...Gifts...Turkey and Dressing... Egg Nog.”All
these and many more make up the American Holiday tradition. But What
is the prime focus of our energies during this season? Jesus Christ.
He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the King of
Kings, the Lord of lords, and Almighty God. Some may call it
Diversity Day, but Christians still gather together to ask the Lord’s
blessing. Some may call it Winter Solstice, Season’s Greetings, or
Happy Holidays, but we still believe it is better to give than to
receive.
We remember the reason for the season- Jesus Christ. He did not come
into the world to judge, but that through Him it might be saved.
Truth in Him,
Phil Pippenger, BCAPE Chaplain
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This from TIMES News... A group of teachers who believe Florida’s
teachers unions are out of touch and overly political hope to compete
with the unions soon by offering the benefits without the
politics.
The group, led by a longtime Hillsborough County teacher now on
leave, plans to form an educators association that would provide
teachers with some of the things that make unions indispensable -
liability insurance and legal services. But the association would
avoid the more controversial union activities - political action
committees and candidate endorsements.
“We’re just trying to offer an alternative,”said Kathryn Simmons of
Brandon. “Right now teachers don’t have a choice. If you want the
liability insurance and other benefits, you have to go along with all
the political agendas.”
Despite all the talk about the nuts and bolts of benefits, the effort
appears to have grown out of a more fundamental issue: disenchantment
with unions.
“I just feel that the unions have violated the trust of professional
educators,”Simmons said. “We’re lending our money and our support to
an organization that does not represent our views. But we have little
choice.”
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