Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Teachers' Lounge

A strange, strange thing happened last week.

One of my "union goons", as I call them (not to their faces of course), stopped me in the hallway and inquired about my past association with the teachers' union.

See, in the past, I've been all sorts of things: President of my university's student Education Association, building representative to our union, member of the negotiating team for the contract, and then "Fair Share" member.

I'm sure that this caught fellow teachers who saw me check that little box off guard. After all, I had been the advocate they had relied upon for many years.

Now, by checking that one little box, my status (as I understand it) moved to "protected by union and paying for what I need to" status. In reality, I really never saved money or paid less in dues, but felt a heck of a lot better letting the NEA know I object to things it stands for like giving money to Planned Parenthood.

Every year that I checked the little box declaring my "Fair Share" status, I received a packet of legal documents outlining budgets seemingly larger than Fannie Mae or Freddy Mac. I'm a mom and a teacher, a wife and a volunteer. Apparently I was expected to wade through the numbers and let them know exactly which expenditures I objected to. To be honest, I was unable to wade, unwilling to devote the time... ran it by a tax attorney friend, and he was equally disenchanted with the absurdity of it all.

Back to the co-worker. He asked me what my position was all about. Did I save any money? What did my status exactly mean? etc. I filled him in on what confused me, what my reasoning was, what I had the patience to actually do about my positions (to this day, a personal failure as a conservative). He was all ears. Said he agreed with me on so many of my political convictions.

I am still in shock. The NEA nor our local associations do not advertise the fact that many of us object to their platforms. Of course not. Without our money, their anti-school choice, pro-dump money on teachers candidates would not win elections. If anyone has any help, any names, any organizations that give me guidance on fighting this David vs. Goliath type of battle... I'd gladly take it! Right now I have to go correct papers, pack lunch, and check that little box on my registration form.