VA Teacher's Union for Obama - In the Classroom

[Slingin Sammy 33]

I guess it's OK to politicize the classroom. I'm pretty sure if a conservative organization did a McCain support day in public classrooms the ACLU would be ready with a lawsuit.

Virginia Teachers Union Sparks Outrage With 'Obama Blue Day' - FOXNews.com Elections

If I was a dues-paying member of the VEA I'd be pretty pissed-off.

[dmek25]

why? i haven't heard McCain talk once about education. and im sure these teachers value their jobs

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by dmek25

why? i haven't heard McCain talk once about education. and im sure these teachers value their jobs

What are you talking about?

JohnMcCain.com - McCain-Palin 2008

No teacher is going to lose his/her job if McCain is elected. The federal government only funds approximately 8% of K-12 public education anyway. The rest is state or locally funded.

Archived: 10 Fact About K-12 Education Funding


What McCain's education policies are is not the issue. The issue is a Teacher's Union (who's members dues are mandatory, I believe) advocating for a particular political candidate. Being on the right, if I had to pay dues to the VEA and they are pushing Obama I would be very pissed off.

That aside, why should the VEA be allowed to publicly push Obama in the classroom. I pay taxes in the state of Virginia and I don't want the teacher's union pushing a particular candidate, left or right. The teachers can have whatever political belief they want, keep it on their time, not on the time I pay them to impartially teach my kid.

This is not about an individual teacher sharing his or her views, I have no problem with that. This is an organized effort to push Obama in the public school system and it's wrong.

[saden1]

Almost all teacher unions are for Obama and I believe unions can encourage their union members to vote for Obama. I think you're also erroneously equating public schools with churches. You see, churches are tax exempt and therefore are not allowed by law to get into politics. Schools don't operate like churches. Teachers can wear t-shirts that say "Vote Obama!" (depends on school district dress code and policy) but your pastor can't have a "Vote McCain!" without forfeiting his church's tax exempt status.

Also you can hand out voter registration cards in schools and in churches but you can't tell people how to vote. Me think Republicans are pissed because they get no love from Teacher Unions. This is much ado about nothing.

[724Skinsfan]

You can not use your school email account to send political or religious messages unless somehow it's k-12 related, like "Don't forget to vote today" or "Math tutoring sessions will be held at St Elvis' United Methodist Church".

It's like speeding, people do it all the time and it annoys everyone that are smart enough to follow rules rather than agendas.

[724Skinsfan]

Just checked. The VEA president sent the message via a mailed newsletter and it really just sort of says that she supports Obama and gives her reasons why. It's not pushy at all. If anyone is interested I can copy it down.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Just checked. The VEA president sent the message via a mailed newsletter and it really just sort of says that she supports Obama and gives her reasons why. It's not pushy at all. If anyone is interested I can copy it down.

I'd like to see it if you can.

[saden1]

I suppose this story is relevant to this thread.

[That Guy]

if they can wear red shirts and be within the laws, then they can wear blue ones too.

doesn't seem like that big a deal, as long as they aren't forcing views on others or discriminating.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

I'd like to see it if you can.

I start on it this evening after the Hokie game.

[724Skinsfan]

Good thing my stupidity can be overridden. I found the newsletter article on the VEA website.

Also, there was an email which I assume was the same that was sent but it was sent to all of the VEA/NEA presidents for them to forward on to the teachers that are VEA members. Ours, a staunch Republican, did not which why my wife did not receive the email.