NEA Once Again Tries to Rewrite History

They say history is written by the victors. That might have been correct in the past. Today, however, we have special interest groups trying to rewrite it to conform to their own agendas. The latest attempt comes from the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest teacher’s union. This time, its target is the Holocaust and Israel. The NEA has decided giving students the facts and letting them judge for themselves isn’t nearly as important as playing politics and indoctrination.

The handwriting was on the wall. For years, the NEA has become more and more politicized. Recently, there was a push from its membership to cut all ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Apparently union delegates wanted the NEA to “not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League.” The materials they wanted to ban included curricular materials and statistics. Think about that for a moment. They wanted to prevent teachers from using stats compiled by the ADL simply because it is the ADL. It wasn’t about the validity of the stats or the appropriateness of the material. In other words, it all comes down to politics. Those same union delegates proved it when they also tried to block the union from “participating in ADL programs or publicizing the organization’s professional development offerings.”

Why? That’s the question everyone should be asking. The answer is simple: Gaza. There is a split in the union over the Israel-Gaza conflict, one that isn’t new. It made the news during the last presidential campaign at a time when the NEA planned to endorse Biden.

When the delegates demanded a break from the ADL, union leadership appeared to take a stand. (Note that appeared should be read with tongue firmly planted in cheek.) NEA head Becky Pringle issued a statement last week that said, in part:

We consulted with NEA state affiliates and civil rights leaders, including Jewish American and Arab American community leaders, and we also met with ADL leadership,” Pringle said. “After consideration, it was determined that this proposal would not further NEA’s commitment to academic freedom, our membership, or our goals.”

That sounds like they were being reasonable, doesn’t it? Except it was nothing more than smoke and mirrors, proven by what the NEA’s 2025 handbook says. The handbook is the union’s “guide on the group’s priorities and strategic goals for the association’s national and state leaders, staff, and members.” In this particular instance, the union is actively instructing its members to reframe the Holocaust and it takes what can only be seen as a political stance on the issue, one that is at odds with the supposed goals of the organization.

The union defines the Holocaust as “victims of the Holocaust from different faiths”. On its face, that is partially correct. The Nazis and their allies murdered people from different faiths as well as people who did not fit into the “proper Aryan lifestyle”. But it is what the handbook goes on to say that is the real problem.

When describing how the union will continue to support Holocaust Remembrance Day, it does so without mentioning the fact the Nazis tried to exterminate not only those who practiced the Jewish faith but who were of Jewish descent. It then gives a slanted description of the founding of the state of Israel, making sure to note how Israel was created through the “violent” displacement of the Palestinian people. Let’s forget about how history shows a back-and-forth in the region for centuries. Let’s forget about putting anything into context. Let’s simply fall into lock step with the political agenda du jour.

While condemning Israel, the handbook goes on to stress the importance of teaching about the Palestinian Nakba not only to its members but to the general public. Uh, excuse me, but is it the NEA’s job to educate the public? I thought it was supposed to be working for the best interest of its members and help direct the education of our children–not the indoctrination of them.

But it gets even better. To make everything right–in other words, to try to convince those who aren’t paying close attention that they really aren’t trying to rewrite history–the NEA handbook states that the union isn’t supporting antisemitism. It’s just teaching anti-Zionism. Riiiight.

Oh, but we shouldn’t worry.

 NEA will use its existing media outlets to defend educators’ and students’ academic freedom and free speech in defense of Palestine at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.”

But this isn’t political at all.

Is it any wonder there’s a move to strip the NEA of its charter? While doing so wouldn’t strip it of its status as a union, it very well could impact its finances. Here’s an interesting factoid. More than 97% of the money used to lobby politicians or donate to political races by the NEA goes into Democratic coffers.

But it isn’t political.

These are the people who want to tell school districts and teachers what our children should be taught. Isn’t it time to tell them not only “no”, but “Hell no!” and take back control of our schools?

Featured image created using ChatGPT by Amanda S. Green.

The post NEA Once Again Tries to Rewrite History appeared first on Victory Girls Blog.