In fact, the NEA's board recently voted to affirm a commitment to bipartisanship. Time is running out on public education. . . . The dissatisfaction that people feel is very basic,'' noted AFT President Albert Shanker. Funding for each voucher would be divided between Washington and the states. The unions vigorously oppose such a measure.
Private contracting enjoys support among free- market advocates.
School districts typically underestimate the true costs of services, argues Reason Foundation education specialist Janet Beales. It also might explain why teachers' unions organize workers tangential to teaching. For years NEA and AFT have organized bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school employees. They included support staff, retired teachers, ''life members,'' agency-fee payers and students.