|
|
9486 in the collection
Paige’s book rekindles “terrorist organization” gaffe
Daniel Pryzbyla examines why U. S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige chose a meeting of the governors' association at which to alling the National Education Association (NEA) a terrorist organization.
By Daniel Pryzbyla
Calling the National Education Association (NEA) a "terrorist organization" at the February 2004 annual gathering of governors at the White House, former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige's caustic political attack backfired. Worse yet, his "apology" was short-lived.
Recently published late in 2006, Paige's book title alone rekindles the flames – The War against Hope – How teachers' unions hurt children, hinder teachers, and endanger public education. It's highly unlikely NEA President Reg Weaver was presented with an autographed copy by the book's author, unless it was April Fools Day.
The last paragraph in Paige's relatively short 200-page anti-teachers union treatise pretty much sums up the political analysis of President Bush's privatization agenda. "The bottom line is this: As a nation, we have a choice between two alternatives. We can choose to have authentic school reform, or we can choose – through omission – to have continued teachers' union dominance of school operations. We cannot have it both ways." Well, Rod, even your brief historical analysis of unionization in this country – especially in education – deserves an "F." Seeing a "union made" label must make his blood boil. Paige follows in the political footsteps of his leader. In this new democratic parlance, there remain the illusion of "choices." But in reality, once there is a proposition placed on the table, it's, "First, you can do it my way; second, you can do it my way; or if not satisfied – third, you can do it my way. Are there any questions?"
No doubt, Paige has made numerous speeches during his 4-year stint as education chief. Why did he choose the February 2004 annual meeting of the National Governors Association to deliver his saber rattling NEA rebuke? It wasn't even an "off-the-cuff" remark. In Chapter 1, he stated, "I had meant it as a grim joke, to describe the fear and scare tactics being used to obfuscate the issues and obstruct real reform…A silence came over the room. Even so, I continued with my remarks…" A "grim joke"? Yet, for whatever reason(s), he actually felt comfortable in this White House setting of governors to even risk his folly.
According to its website, "NGA is one of Washington's most respected public policy organizations and serves as a key liaison between the state governments and the federal government." It has been in existence officially since 1910. After 1965 it rotated the chair each year between Republican and Democrats, with the vice-chair being the opposite party. Significantly, a major program was integrated in 1988 – "The Corporate Fellows Program." (This was the onset of President George H. W. Bush's term.) "It promotes the exchange of information between the private sector and governors on emerging trends and factors affecting business and state government. As a Corporate Fellow, your company's $15,000 contribution allows NGA to "leverage your industry expertise and utilize your company as an intellectual resource for the work done by the NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center)." One of its 5 Policy Study Divisions includes "Education." The NGA Center is described as the "only dedicated consulting firm for governors and their key policy staff, (and) works to develop and implement innovative solutions to public policy challenges." It has about 100 companies annually.
And for whom does "the bell toll" at the NGA Center? The 100 companies are not exactly your local arts and crafts merchants, restaurant owners, health food stores or veterinarians. A partial listing includes: Apple Computer, AT&T, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, General Electric, General Motors, Global Markets Institute at Goldman Sachs, Hallmark Cards, Inc., Hewlett-Packer Company, IBM, Intel, Ford Motor Company, State Farm Insurance, Freddie Mac, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Pearson Education, Pfizer, Inc., The College Board, The McGraw-Hill companies, Scholastic, Inc., the Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola companies, Dow Chemical Co., Walgreen Co., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., etc. Even a banker could see the NGA Center advocating the corporatization of government.
Paige's appearance and speech represented the NGA Center's "Education" division. While the media jumped on Paige personally for his acid remark, it could also have had political damaging trickle-down effects on the NGA. That was what the deathly silence was really all about, but Paige still didn't (couldn't) come to this realization even when his book was written. He continued in Chapter 1, "I knew that nothing else I said would be heard. The remark would get out. No one would consult me for clarification, context, or intention. This was Washington." "Consult" him? No doubt NGA Chairman Gov. Mike Huckabee, (R) Arkansas felt otherwise, anxiously attempting to calm the media at their White House gathering before Paige had even finished his speech – pleading for NGA innocence and disassociation from his acerbic portrayal. No doubt, others had to make quick phone calls to media chiefs and newspaper editors. It worked. No NGA guilt by association was reported. Corporate Fellows Program representatives could relax.
Without doubt, Paige's book could be judged by its cover, but an author's selection of important allies to help write the book is also revealing. Discussing and praising an investigation of NEA political activities by Landmark Legal Foundation in Chapter 6, Paige noted, "Thanks to Landmark, we know just how political the very organization of the NEA is." Of course, Paige is not required by any publishing police to declare LLF political ideology or inform readers "just how political" it is.
Center for Media and Democracy reported the Landmark Legal Foundation has a $1 million annual budget. It has filed lawsuits against labor unions and school desegregation. It has also fought for legislation that would allow parents to direct public education funding toward their children's private schools. In the early 1990s, LLF twice presented arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in support of Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson's "school choice" voucher program to channel public funding to private schools. In those case's Clint Bolick, who had established the Institute for Justice, was one of the attorneys working for LLF. According to Media Transparency, LLF had received $310,000 from the Bradley Foundation between 1990 and 1992. The conservative Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation located in Milwaukee, WI also honored Bolick with 1 of its 4 annual "achievement awards" in 2006. Praising his efforts as President and General Counsel of the Alliance for School Choice, each recipient also received $250,000. It pays to have friends in your corner. You didn't think the private school voucher movement's anti-public schools, anti-teacher union efforts are funded by bake sales.
"Paige's book raises the question: Why are conservatives so worked up about teacher unions," wrote Richard Kahlenberg in his Washington Post book review April 17, this year. "In 1996, Bob Dole singled out teacher unions for tough rhetoric in his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination, ignoring other groups – from auto workers to the NAACP – that have equally strong ties to the Democratic Party." One possibility, he noted, "is that teacher unions lie at the intersection of two institutions that many conservatives dislike: public education and organized labor." The reviewer, also a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, added, "In an economy that has otherwise sought to move toward "market solutions," our system of what Paige tellingly refers to as 'government-run schools' stands as an annoying anomaly to many conservatives, and the political strength of the teachers unions is the single most important reason why publicly-funded private-school voucher proposals have mostly failed."
"Nor does Paige acknowledge anywhere in the book that unions are far more powerful in the North than in the South," the reviewer noted. "Discussing this variation would raise an awkward question: Why, if teacher unions are the 'biggest' impediment to progress in education, are Southern schools not thriving and delivering a far superior form of schooling?"
If you expected originality in Paige's book, there is very little. Its 19-page "Notes" section of the book consists of previously published materials by individuals, organizations and foundations promoting private, charter and religious school vouchers.
Has Paige turned "author" after his departure as U.S. Secretary of Education? Not likely. The War against Hope was merely an extended response to his NEA "terrorist organization" name-calling gaffe at the NGA meeting. "No one would consult me for clarification, context, or intention." So, he had the book published to do it.
The book's author jacket says he's now "Cofounder of Chartwell Education Group LLC." Its website lists Paige as "Chairman," and one of his former Department staff John Danielson as cofounder, "President and CEO." Other former staff joined. The Center for Responsive Politics reported Chartwell (Its lobbying arm.) earned $720,000 in 2006. One of its notable clients was NBC Universal, for $160,000.
Corporate Fellows Program, next?
— Daniel Pryzbyla
EdNews.Org
2007-07-09
http://www.ednews.org/articles/14194/1/Paiges-book-rekindles-terrorist-organization-gaffe/Page1.html
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
[1] 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> Last >>
|
