{"id":4365,"date":"2023-07-21T05:03:54","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T05:03:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=4365"},"modified":"2023-07-21T05:57:18","modified_gmt":"2023-07-21T05:57:18","slug":"wisconsin-congressman-scott-fitzgerald-introduces-bill-taking-on-national-education-associations-political-clout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=4365","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Congressman Scott Fitzgerald Introduces Bill Taking on National Education Association\u2019s Political Clout"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/wisconsindailystar.com\/news\/wisconsin-congressman-scott-fitzgerald-introduces-bill-taking-on-national-education-associations-political-clout\/mkittle\/2023\/07\/21\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-05) introduced a bill<\/a>\u00a0that would check the power of the National Education Association (NEA).<\/p>\n

The Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today (STUDENT) Act aims to reform the NEA\u2019s federal charter and \u201crededicate the organization to the pursuit of increased student learning and quality education in schools across America,\u201d according to the congressman.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince receiving its federal charter the NEA has strayed far from its original purpose, becoming little more than a political machine masking as an advocate for public education and students,\u201d Fitzgerald said in a statement. \u201cThe organization\u2019s massive political operation seems more interested in pushing a radical progressive agenda than advocating for student and schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

NEA critics have long been concerned that the union is more interested in liberal politics than helping America\u2019s K-12 students succeed.<\/p>\n

Fitzgerald notes that at a conference in recent years, the NEA\u00a0voted down\u00a0a business item to \u201crededicate itself to the pursuit of increased student learning in every public school in America.\u201d The nation\u2019s largest labor union has, however, voted in support\u00a0of the right to an abortion, supporting illegal immigration, and expanding professional development for educators to help create student Gender Sexuality Alliance clubs.<\/p>\n

The NEA was widely criticized for lobbying the Biden administration to keep schools locked down during COVID-19 despite warnings from health experts that broad remote education was proving more dangerous than the virus. Officials from the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers were found to have pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make last-minute changes to school reopening guidance that kept schools closed longer.<\/p>\n

Students nationwide continue to deal with the disastrous impacts of COVID lockdown policies. The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress,<\/a> known as \u201cthe nation\u2019s report card,\u201d shows 13-year-olds posted historically low math scores last year.<\/p>\n

ABC News<\/em> reported:<\/a><\/p>\n

Both math and reading scores declined in five selected percentile groups: 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th, reflecting lower-, middle- and higher-performing students, according to the NAEP report. Students\u2019 math scores decreased in all regions of the country and in nearly all student subgroups. American Indian\/Native and Black students saw the most significant changes in math, with scores down by 20 and 13 points, respectively.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cUnion bosses like Randi Weingarten have conspired with politically charged school boards and administrators to implement one-size-fits-all policies that limit students\u2019 growth and replace core academic courses with partisan indoctrination,\u201d House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said in a statement<\/a>, referring to the president of the American Federation of Teachers.<\/p>\n

The NEA was quick to again endorse President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the Democrats\u2019 bid for re-election.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are tireless advocates for public education, proving time and time again that this is the most pro-public education and pro-union administration in modern history,\u201d NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Fitzgerald said his bill adds accountability and transparency provisions commonly found in other federal charters to improve the NEA Federal charter, including:<\/p>\n