the OEA fund – formally known as FCPE if you recall those fund drives from years ago – supports candidates that support public education, again NONE of your dues support candidates. In the last school year there were ONLY 2 OF US that donated to this fund. This is a bit shameful. If you want a continued voice in your working and learning environments we need to support this fund to get folks elected that value public education. See the post prior to this one about all the ways $$ is leaving public education. For all of you that are concerned about your retirement for instance – WAKE UP. If you want something to retire to, then you need to take action NOW.
The equation is simple, or very devious depending on how you look at it…talk about schools as failing through made up “report” cards + drive in wedge issues and divisive content surrounding things like SEL and CRT = schools bad and indoctrinating. Then provide vouchers and $$ to more and more families, after all, its your money so they say. First it was about “failing” schools in poor socio economic areas, well, that has now been scaled up to include all schools AND families earning up to 750% of poverty or $225,000 can now receive public money to send students to schools of their choice. (see the prior post about those predicted #’s) Since it was getting harder and harder to prove academic failure due to all the improvements in education and how great we all are 🙂 – AND we are doing better than many other (see this link) – it has now shifted to “failures” on issues that can not really be measured like “indoctrination”. All those private school “spaces”, and yes I use the terms spaces because it includes online schools, well, their staff and schools are not held to the same levels/standards as we in public education, no OTES or state standards as 2 examples.
Now back to more math and things like your retirement for example. More money + more “choice/freedom” = less students in public education. Less students means fewer public school staff = less salaries. Less salaries = less money in STRS = less for you and your families moving forward = more anger and vitriol surrounding “promises” made by STRS. Its not STRS’s fault, it will be yours for not paying attention. On top of this…less kids being born (we are at all time low) =less students = less salaries = less STRS. Its kind of a double whammy. So the time is now to elect those that value public education.
You all should be take this seriously…so this holiday season of giving – how about donating to the OEA fund – its easy – no more paper work and forms in triplicate – I set it up as an auto withdrawal monthly – have one less frappé mocha latte espresso and invest in your future.
On a more personal note and for your information…I am getting more involved in the OEA fund disbursement of funds – I have just been selected as delegate for the OEA Fund State assembly this spring and will also be serving as a chairperson for local screening opportunities of candidates. Your local president will take a hands on approach to this process and how this $$ is dispersed, so, you’re in good hands with All Nate. The fall election season will be upon us before we know it – so now is the time – ! If anyone of you would like to be involved in this process of screening let me know – you get to me educators from around NEO – speak with candidates – and usually get dinner, and NHEA will pay your mileage.
Happy Holidays and lets make this a better new year…
Scrooge out.