New NEA President Princess Moss is just what you would expect from the newly elected National Education Association President, a leftist idealogue who will continue the union's slide to the left in support of indoctrination of our nation's students into Marxism/Communism, gender ideology, and anti-family politics.
How do we know? We know because she, like former President Becky Pringle, tells us. Here is a quote from her acceptance speech at the recent NEA Convention. Moss is the current NEA Vice President and will take over as President September 1st, allowing Pringle to continue to prance around as if she is some kind of deity for just a bit longer. From the beginning of Moss's speech:
"Together, we will build the power to defend public education, advance racial and social justice, and ensure every educator has the respect, resources, and voice they deserve," new President Princess Moss said in announcing her win at the union's Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly last week.
As you can see, there is no reference to academic achievement for children, parental rights, or American values in that announcement. It's more of the same divisive rhetoric that has carried Pringle through her term, especially if you dig past the initial phrases.
The National EDUCATION Association has NOTHING to do with education, or kids, or even the rank-and-file teachers. In fact, less than 10 cents per dollar of member dues goes to educator advocacy and representation. The rest is salaries for six figure administrative salaries, payoffs to politicians, and millions into political action committees that don't mirror the beliefs of many of their members. These facts have caused U.S. Representatives to introduce legislation to decertify the union. We wrote about this last year:
Why Teachers Unions Should Be Decertified - The Easton Gazette
If that's the case, why do teachers join?
Simple. Teachers, especially new teachers, are lied to by local teachers' unions presidents and boards who tell them that without the union, teachers will have no legal representation or advocacy. Teachers are bullied by other teachers who belong to the union in much the same way that other labor union thugs compel membership in their unions.
I experienced that bullying myself when I was a young teacher at the State convention. They wanted me to donate to Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend when she was running for Governor. I refused and the union leadership was not quiet in their threats. I didn't donate. She didn't win. I survived.
There is NO state in the country which compels teachers to belong to the union. In fact, to do so has been ruled unconstitutional. The 2018 Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court ruling states that compulsory union membership and compulsory agency fees are unconstitutional nationwide.
There are 36 states which commit school districts to collective bargaining with unions. Nine states leave it up to local districts. Six states actually ban collective bargaining.
Image by NCTQ.org
You won't hear that from Union leadership.
It is interesting to note that student achievement, which should be the ultimate mission of public schools, is not impacted positively just because collective bargaining is allowed in the state.
To hear the NEA President elect, without the union, public schools would be destroyed:
"You have faced an administration determined to turn diversity, equity, and inclusion into a slur … to gut Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security, and to defund our schools to fund billionaires,” Moss told delegates. New NEA President Pledges Continued Focus on DEI, Social Justice and Democratic Priorities – [your]NEWS
I didn't realize that Medicaid, SNAP and Social Security was part of the teachers' unions mission. I also didn't realize that making the education system better meant funding billionaires. Silly me.
Moss has been consistent in past remarks to the union, as she advocated for NEA to “protect the right to vote, the rights of women and LGBTQ+ rights,” and to “carve a clear path toward the presidential election in 2024.” She campaigned for the usual suspects, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Again, nothing about students actually learning.
As she takes over for Pringle, she has committed to the union's plunge to the left, advocacy for LGBTQ+ issues, DEI, racial justice, organized protest and other Democratic electoral priorities ahead of student achievement. And of course, Moss has the obligatory hatred of Republicans, MAGA, and President Trump. On their union webpage, a search will yield 76 negative articles about the President, his education reforms, etc.
Moss is an elementary school teacher from Virginia. She campaigned for the position of President with this statement from her campaign website:
PRINCESS MOSS FOR NEA PRESIDENT: FULL CANDIDATE STATEMENT
And the video with it's lovely music:
CANDIDATE STATEMENT: VOTE PRINCESS MOSS FOR NEA PRESIDENT
It's clear that academics, expectation of students, protecting teachers from student violence, etc. is not on the agenda.
But she will collect a nice paycheck. She was paid $416,514 for her role as Vice President.
She's been collecting a similar six-figure salary as an officer of the union since 2021. That means that in five years she has made over $2 million dollars. The average teacher during that time? Around $325,000. No doubt being President will bring a HEFTY increase and lots of perks.
Here are the big questions.
Will members of the union chapters, local and state, know where their dues go? Will new teachers understand that the union is lying to them about the need to join?
Will local unions continue to pretend they don't agree with the national leadership?
Only time will tell.
Additional Information:
Who Decides Maryland State Education Association Apple Endorsements? - The Easton Gazette
