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A teacher quickly realizes that if you want to continue teaching (in most states) you better not rock the boat or refuse the NEA shakedown. I have seen teachers blackballed and driven from the profession. Most teachers try to ignore all the politics and concentrate on teaching.

Also, too bad all the dysfunctional parents can't be taken to court for their failure to properly raise their kids. It all starts in the home. The biggest problem facing education today is the social collapse occurring within America. Problems in education are just a reflection of ourselves.

There should be a national campaign to educate our educators about the law where their union dues are concerned. The NEA is one of the most powerful lobbies in our republic. Their power is in large part due to igonorance of the statutes pertaining to union dues.

Many in my family are public school teachers, including my wife. None of them understand the statute and would not attempt to opt out of the political action portion of their dues. I've tried to explain the law to them, but they feel it would be more trouble than it would be worth. They also feel that their union would make it very nearly impossible to opt out.

We need a nation campaign to educate teachers about this vital statute! The reason the NEA makes it so difficult to "opt out" of the political action portion of their dues is that they don't want to let this secret statute to become common knowledge among their members.

Ok, here we go...another "My Nickel" (adjusting for the Carter inflation): The teacher's Union and all that goes with it is a MINORITY. We, on the other hand, are a MAJORITY. Why in the name of all that is holy, can't we take back the public schools for the good..........OF THE CHILDREN? The majority in this country has got to stand up for their rights, or lose them. Can you imagine a country with a radical minority in charge....Upps, we've already had that (USSR) and it failed.

People, people, people...we had these kids, we support them, we love them more than life it's self. Why, in the name of God, do we turn them over to the socialists in the public schools every day. What happened to parents having an upper hand in the education of their children. They are your kids, for Christ's sakes! They belong to YOU! Make a difference, fight these kidnappers and win! Get mad at them damn socialists!

The EEOC ruled

1. The 11 month delay is unreasonable
2. Annual filings is illegal.

I didn't see anything in the article that suggested it was unreasonable to require Mr. Robey and others to explain how their religious beliefs conflicted with NEA activities. I guess that is because the ONLY reason allowed for diverting funds away from the NEA is for "sincerely held religious beliefs"

If you are not religious, you are out of luck. If you don't like NEA political activities, but it doesn't violate your "sincerely held religious beliefs", you are out of luck. Out of luck, unless you are willing to lie to get qualified.

It is easier to get divorced than to end your association with the NEA.

Also, only "the portion of the union dues unrelated to collective bargaining " can be diverted away from the NEA. What happens if collective bargaining is against your "sincerely held religious beliefs"? I guess you are out of luck again. I'm willing to bet that the NEA inflates the costs of collective bargaining as yet another way to get their hands on more money.

The problem with all of this is the freedom of association clause of our constitution. If you have freedom of association, then you must have freedom of disassociation. A teacher is not free to disassociate from the NEA. I wish the lawsuit would focus on the "REAL" civil rights of the teachers.

NEA membership should be like your Blockbuster Video Membership. You must sign up to join and can quit at any time, no questions asked.