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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2003

News Release

Poll Finds Teachers'
Support for Unions Is Strong

Washington, D.C. - Public Agenda's new study, "Stand by Me:  What Teachers Really Think about Unions, Merit Pay and Other Professional Matters" confirms that the National Education Association accurately represents the views of its members on merit pay, tenure, and alternative routes to certification.

"Teachers understand that politically motivated panaceas such as merit pay and eliminating tenure do nothing to improve teacher quality," said NEA President Reg Weaver.  "Our members are open to alternatives, but we will always oppose quick fixes designed to weaken the voice of teachers and effectiveness of education employees in all jobs."

The Public Agenda study looked at three key issues currently under consideration at the local, state, and national levels.

• Merit Pay:  Public Agenda found that most teachers oppose merit pay - based on favoritism and test scores - but many support other non-traditional compensation plans, including extra pay for extra work, incentives to work in schools in need of improvement, and incentives for National Board certification.  None of those alternatives are merit pay, and NEA and its affiliates have supported those proposals.
  
• Tenure:  Public Agenda found that 58 percent of teachers say "tenure protects teachers from district politics, favoritism and the threat of losing their jobs to newcomers who could work for less."  Only one-third of teachers say it is too difficult to dismiss teachers who can't or won't do their jobs.
  
• Alternate Routes to Certification:  Teachers recognize the importance of having an educational background both in subject matter and how to teach.  Almost 60 percent of teachers said that it is essential for those who enter the teaching profession to go through education programs that cover how children learn and share effective instructional strategies.

"For our members, being a union advocate is consistent with their care and commitment to children and to quality education," Weaver said.  "This study reveals that once again."

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.