Teachers: You Can Contribute $100’s  to Your Favorite Charity at No Cost
(and encourage a return to morality by your state’s Education Association)

by Romney Biddulph

 Does the title sound too good to be true?  Some background on the national teachers unions provides perspective.

Several decades ago, the national teachers unions (National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers) were favoring policies that conservative educators favored.

They encouraged teacher testing ("If you don't know the subject, you shouldn't be a teacher") to increase professionalism in teaching.  They considered merit pay.  A controversial curriculum guide on nuclear war was denounced by the unions as  "promoting propaganda in the classrooms."   When the Council on Interracial Books for Children reviewed "homophobia" in children's literature, the unions publicly denounced it as “left-wing extremism”.

But the unions have changed in the last few decades.  They now promote teaching that homosexuality is “just another life-style” (NEA Resolution B-9d), and promote gay student organizations.  The NEA’s Resolution I-13: "The National Education Association supports family planning, including the right to reproductive freedom" (abortion).  Condom education for children is promoted.  The unions are opposed to educational choice for parents.  They now promote gun control and world government and oppose public library pornography filters, areas far a field from the basics in education.  The NEA opposes Congress’ English language fluency act, tax reduction, and a Constitutional Amendment restoring religious freedom.   Many of the issues presently promoted are anti-family, immoral or radically “left-wing”, in contrast to the unions’ positions decades ago.   The unions’ contributions to political candidates are skewed heavily toward those candidates who agree with such anti-family positions.  Thus your money is supporting candidates and positions that may fly in the face of your most cherished beliefs.

Thomas Jefferson said it well, “To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and finds abhorrent, is sinful and tyrannical.”  When you withdraw your contribution, it sends a message to the national union that they do not represent you in these things.

A recent court decision means teachers belonging to a National Education Association (NEA) affiliate (NJ EA, Ohio EA, Washington EA, etc.) can become “religious objectors”, if they are sincere in their beliefs.  Teachers may then contribute to any charitable organization in lieu of  “representation fees” – thus not paying anything to the NEA or the state affiliate.

Here’s how it is done:

Address a letter to the Membership Director of your state NEA affiliate:

Dear Mr./Mrs. Membership Director

   You may not be familiar with EEOC Charge Nos. 220A10859 and 220A11273 filed against the National Education Association alleging religious discrimination.  The charges were filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (Title VII).  The National Education Association and its state affiliates agree to:

1.       Reasonably accommodate the sincerely-held religious beliefs of is non-member fair share fee payers;

2.       Adopt and maintain a Fair Share Fee Religious Objector Policy and Procedure and follow the Policy and Procedure in actual practice as outlined in Appendix A

3.       Not engage in any retaliatory activity towards teachers, NEA, or state affiliate members.

I do not agree with the NEA and (state)EA political choices, your advocacy of abortion, and “comprehensive” sex education on religious grounds.  In particular, I was appalled at your New Jersey affiliate’s “dis-inviting” three abstinence speakers to the NJEA Convention.  As a teacher of impressionable youth, I can certify that abstinence and telling youth the truth is preferable to Planned Parenthood’s “Safe Sex” message.  Your stance on this issue (as well as the others mentioned) is not in students’ best interests.

Please allow me to resign from the (state)EA.  You may either re-direct my representation fee or allow me to contribute in lieu of the representation fee to:

        List your favorite charity’s name, address, phone number, and website here*

  (Briefly explain why the charity qualifies as a charity.)  Please acknowledge receipt of this letter and let me know the annual amount of the representation fee.

   Very truly yours,

         /signed/

   If any readers wish to see a copy of an executed contract between a religious objector and a state education association, or if you wish to see a copy of the EEOC Conciliation Agreement, please fax 973-543-1092.  One last thought, unless your school district’s Education Association advocates immorality, you may wish to contribute voluntarily the local fee ($30 or $40) to retain the goodwill of your fellow teachers, and assist with local representation expenses.  If you write your letter now, you may be able to implement this beginning with the new school year.

*For example:               

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