The Patriot Post® · The NEA and 'All the Things'

By Scarlen Valderaz ·
https://patriotpost.us/articles/108371-the-nea-and-all-the-things-2024-07-11

By now, many have seen National Education Association President Becky Pringle’s keynote speech in which she screams to the audience that they must win “all the things” and must move forward because “they are the NEA.” She also speaks about protecting democracy, but what exactly does she mean by “all the things”? And why does the president of the NEA feel the ardent desire to “protect” democracy?

Public K-12 education isn’t experiencing its best years, as trust was lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only were schools shut down and children forced to wear masks, but for the first time, many parents had a peek into their children’s classrooms and were astonished by what they saw.

Many schools were exposed for teaching divisive race-based topics instead of focusing on the basics. Parents also learned that their children were being data-mined via social and emotional learning surveys, and in some cases, boys were allowed to change in girls’ locker rooms and play in girls’ sports. Parents were rightfully upset and let their grievances be known to their local school boards.

Instead of being met with open arms, school boards demonized parents and, in many cases, worked against parental wishes. The Department of Justice deemed parents expressing their grievances domestic terrorists, and the FBI raided the homes of mothers who simply wanted answers from their school district.

If that wasn’t enough, school districts nationwide began to adopt policies that would hide a child’s gender identity from the parents.

With public schools becoming a hostile environment for students, many parents had no choice but to pull their children and choose alternatives like private school or homeschooling, causing public school enrollment numbers to dwindle.

Pringle’s speech was intended to inspire and encourage NEA members to win “all the things.” Instead, it sounded like a wounded animal close to losing power.

It turns out that parents are not interested in their parental rights being usurped by schools or the NEA, nor are they interested in their children becoming indoctrinated political activists for the Left to use as it pleases. And this is why Pringle sounds unhinged in her passionate cry for “democracy.”

The Republican Party has since released its Make America Great Again platform, which includes plans to repair the damage done to public education by left-wing extremism. This is the commitment that the GOP has made to parents, students, and educators nationwide.

Republicans offer a plan to cultivate great K-12 schools by ensuring safe learning environments free from political meddling and restoring parental rights. Republicans commit to an education system that empowers students, supports families, and promotes American values. Our education system must prepare students for successful lives and well-paying jobs.

This commitment is not groundbreaking; it’s standard. Any political party wanting to secure victory should promise our country parental rights, safe schools, drug-free schools, workforce development, and academic excellence.

Instead, we have one party running amok, scared because it is close to losing the grip it’s had on public education for so long. The days when leftists could indoctrinate students from pre-K to university are close to being over. Not only is the Left losing some of its access to children, but it is close to losing access to the institutions it used to indoctrinate two generations.

It’s no wonder Ms. Pringle felt the need to deliver such a passionate speech about needing to win “all the things”; her organization is about to lose all the things it thought it’d never lose.

Thanks to the vigilance of parents and like-minded organizations supporting them, we may see a historic shift in public education.