Subversive tactics?
To the Editor:
Perhaps you have heard or read about the "evil NEA," (National Education Association) from anti-public education factions concerning the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and the lesson plans regarding Sept. 11.
I was elected to attend the national NEA Convention in Dallas, Texas, this summer. At that convention, educators voted to have legal counsel file a "friend of the court" brief in support of keeping the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Is it "evil" to legally support those fighting to keep those words in our pledge? Is it subversive?
To address Sept. 11, NEA created lesson plans complete with links to related websites. At least one lesson plan included the message "don't blame other Muslims or classmates with darker skin," but our opposition accuses us of saying, "don't blame the terrorists."
We say remember times when the U.S. overreacted by interring all Japanese-Americans — don't repeat that mistake. Anti-public education factions accuse us of saying that U.S. intolerance caused the attacks. Is this subversive?
In the "additional resources" link, a "Patriot Pack" of famous American documents are listed. In "Voices of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow," a set of 10 speeches show "how great Americans have expressed the foundations of our freedom, rights, and responsibilities." The first three speeches were delivered by President George W. Bush. Is this subversive?
Under the "War on Terrorist," the NEA has links to three major websites with information about the war. The NEA's first link is to the site of the CIA, followed by Homeland Security. Is this subversive?
Ellen Sorokin of The Washington Times created front-page "reports" designed to lead the reader to think the NEA is teaching children to hate America. NEA's suggestions to teachers is that they be careful on the first anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks and not to "suggest any group is responsible" for the terrorist hijackings that killed more than 3,000 people. Sorokin ignores the speeches by President Bush; ignores the links to the CIA and Homeland Security; ignores the content of the lessons themselves.
One lesson plan from Lippincott suggests that teachers "address the issue of blame factually. Explore who and what may be to blame for this event. Use non-speculative terms. Do not suggest any group is responsible
What could be the goal of people like Sorokin? If the public thinks NEA is "evil," and they become afraid of us, the opposition will get money to fight against public schools. It truly saddens me to see a national tragedy twisted as an opportunity to advance their personal agenda and that they often do so in the name of religion.
Who is really trying to help kids and parents? Please, keep your ears and eyes wide open in these troubled times and in the current political climate. Get the facts, then decide for yourself who is being subversive.
Proud to be a public educator and a member of the NEA.
Dorothy Rucker
