NEA Delegates Reject Merger Plan, But Door to Unity With AFT Still Open Delegates to the National Education Association's annual meeting soundly rejected a plan July 5 that would have paved the way for the union's merger with the American Federation of Teachers. But AFT delegates endorsed the merger plan July 18.
Unity is far from a dead issue for the nation's two major teacher organizations.
Read reactions to the votes and look ahead to what's next in unifying the two groups. School Issues Get Big Play in Campaigns Republicans and Democrats alike are giving top billing to class-size reduction and school safety and making vouchers and tax credits for private education defining issues in this year's crowded state election season. With 36 governors' races, slim majorities in control of many legislatures, and several significant ballot measures, the stakes are high for schools this Nov. 3. A Lesson in Civics Promoters of strong civic eduacation programs see the process now under way on Capitol Hill as a chance to examine the ideals and political thinking of the Founding Fathers and their relevance to modern life. Terms like impeachment, high crimes and misdemeanors, and censure have perked up the ears of many students and roused them from their slouched positions.