AAE Calls on NEA to Stop Using Teachers' Money to Support ACORN

Alexandria, VA – In light of the alleged illegal conduct by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), the Association of American Educators calls on the National Education Association (NEA) to stop sending teachers' money to fund ACORN.

“The NEA has a practice of using teachers' dues to fund organizations that have nothing to do with education,” said AAE Executive Director Gary Beckner. “I can say with confidence that schoolteachers don't want to support this kind of activity.”

On a larger scale, the U.S. Senate recently voted to strip ACORN of its multi-million dollar grant from Housing and Urban Development budget in a bipartisan vote, 83-7. The move comes after the release of a videotape of ACORN employees offering advice about how to falsify tax forms to a man and a woman posing as a pimp and prostitute who intended to set up a child prostitute business. There are also several calls from government officials for a federal investigation of the community organization.

“The NEA has historically supported controversial social issues much to the chagrin of many of its members,” said Beckner. “The line should be drawn when it comes to criminal conduct.”

According the Department of Labor, the National Education Association has donated $300,000 to ACORN since 2007. Another teacher union affiliated with the AFL-CIO has given over $1 million to this disgraced activist group. Both unions are primarily funded by members' dues.

“Educators who are tired of supporting the NEA and its cronies should consider joining AAE,” added Beckner. “AAE members enjoy reasonable dues, excellent legal and liability insurance, without having to pay for an agenda that has nothing to do with education.”

The Association of American Educators is the largest national, non-union, professional educators' association, offering an alternative to the partisan politics and non-educational agendas of the teacher labor unions. AAE does not endorse, support or contribute to any political cause or candidacy. AAE has members in all 50 states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership is $180 per year. http://www.aaeteachers.org.