JULY 2004
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Barrier to learning
How the National Education Association prevents students and
teachers from achieving academic and professional excellence.
BARRIER TO LEARNING
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“This battle is about freedom. Teachers simply want the freedom that all
other Americans enjoy—the freedom to associate with people who share
their values, and the freedom to have their hard-earned money support
candidates and issues they believe in.”
Jeff Leer
Substitute teacher and tennis coach
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
JULY 2004
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Barrier to Learning is designed to
inform teachers, parents, taxpayers,
legislators, journalists, and other
concerned citizens about the harmful
impact the National Education
Association has on teaching and
learning.
The project is funded by the
Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a
private, non-profit, public policy
research organization in Washington
state. Our funding comes from 3,300
individual members and various
foundational grants. We do not accept
public funds.
Our mission is to advance individual
liberty, free enterprise and limited and
accountable government.
Our primary research areas are budget
and taxes, education, health care,
welfare, and citizenship and
governance. Within those areas we
publish studies, conduct seminars,
and work to provide information for
legislators, journalists and the general
public.
At the request of teachers, we have
advocated in the courts and media
against the union’s illegal use of their
mandatory dues and fees.
Nothing in this publication should
be construed as an attempt to aid or
hinder the passage of any legislation.
About this publication
Contact EFF
Evergreen Freedom Foundation
PO Box 552
Olympia, WA 98507
(360) 956-3482 F: (360) 352-1874
www.effwa.org info@effwa.org
Principal Authors
Marsha Richards
Lynn Harsh
Principal Editors
Lynn Harsh
Marsha Richards
Bob Williams
Jami Lund
Design/Layout
Joel Sorrell
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We are late to the war, we defenders of “public” education.
It is a war declared by education unions almos