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If people don’t get serious about taking control of their childrens’ educations away from the preponderance of liberal, socialist “teachers” controlling our education system in this country - they are going to continue watching their kids grow up NOT RECOGNIZING any national boundary (especially the United States’ national boundary). That’s the dirty little secret that’s not so secret of the so-called intelligentsia of this country and the world. Witness: The Clinton crowd, poised to take total - and I do mean total - control of the world in just a few short months.

(Oh, I know, I know - all the self-described “good” teachers on this forum will loudly dispute this statement, but do they resist paying the teacher’s union dues and do they REALLY dare say ANYTHING that might ruffle the feathers of their fellow teachers in that union?) I have a relative who has enough guts not to join the teacher’s union, but even he is out-shouted by the hordes of lemmings that make up the majority of his co-workers.)

While there are a number of well-meaning and even dedicated individual teachers in the system, their efforts are undermined by that very system. This unfortunate girl really showed her public education.

Depending on the state you live in and your profession, union dues are a requirement of hire. The money is taken from your paycheck with no recourse. This is true of more professions than you can shake a stick at, including education.

In a Right to Work state, such as Virginia, we are not required to join a union, therefore many don't. High union representation is seen in the Democratic strongholds of the state, not in the red counties.

So I don't know if I qualify as a 'good' teacher in your view, but I don't pay dues, never have, and I say whatever I feel is necessary to say to my fellow teachers. Out of about 50 teachers, less than 20 are in the NEA or AFT. More are in the AAE, which is a conservative, non-union, non-political trade organization.

(Oh, I know, I know - all the self-described “good” teachers on this forum will loudly dispute this statement, but do they resist paying the teacher’s union dues and do they REALLY dare say ANYTHING that might ruffle the feathers of their fellow teachers in that union?) I have a relative who has enough guts not to join the teacher’s union, but even he is out-shouted by the hordes of lemmings that make up the majority of his co-workers.)

Actually, a lot of teachers start wising up after some years in the gulag. I'm in LAUSD, and just yesterday in a schoolwide meeting I kind of went off about how the kids should have to pay for their books because by giving them all this stuff paid for by the taxpayers, we are not teaching them the value of anything. Of course, I was told that we can't do that. But the next day, at least three people came up to me and said, "I really agree with what you said, and even though the real problems are things they always say can't be changed, I was glad to hear someone say it."

And some of them, I know, were liberals when they started out all starry-eyed and foolish years ago.

[Applause]