When the e-mail popped into Doris Boitnott's in-box last month, she figured it would be "a little fun spark to energize folks."
The idea: for her Virginia Education Association colleagues and members across the state to wear blue to show support for Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate.
Boitnott crafted her own version of the e-mail invitation for "Obama Blue Day," scheduled for last Tuesday. She ran it by a couple of co-workers - who saw no problem with it - and sent the message to about 400 people last week.
Then the state Republican party heard about it. Then the news media heard about it. Then the education association was in the middle of one of those election year controversies.
The education association refers to Obama as a "recommended candidate" for president, but not all educators do. State GOP spokesman Gerry Scimeca said some forwarded Boitnott's e-mail to the party.
Scimeca called the e-mail inappropriate and accused the group of forcing its political views on students.
"You pay your tax money to teachers to educate your kids, not to bring politics in the schools," Scimeca said.
Boitnott, VEA's assistant director of government relations, said she routinely informs members of political rallies and talking points for writing newspaper letters to the editor. She considered this another bit of information.
Besides, she said, no one but the participants would know why they were wearing blue.
"We're asking them to wear a color," Boitnott said. "It never occurred to me that that would be a controversial topic."
That changed when she learned her name was on the scroll on Fox News.
The VEA shouldn't be surprised by the reaction, said Bob Holsworth, a political analyst at Virginia Commonwealth University. Republicans long have suggested "that teacher organizations are basically an arm of the Democratic party," he said, while educators emphasize that "the right of expression is not an attempt at indoctrination."
In the e-mail, educators were encouraged to wear a blue clothing item but not something that mentioned a particular candidate. They were asked to register two voters or talk to people about Obama.
VEA President Kitty Boitnott - Doris Boitnott's sister - said in a statement that the organization "encourages its members to be politically active, but it does not encourage teachers to use their classrooms for partisan political purposes."
Executive Director Robert Whitehead said the VEA forwarded the e-mail to local leaders and members who had sought political information.
"I did not personally get the e-mail.... I had to look on a Web site to find it," he said.
Virginia Department of Education spokesman Charles Pyle said a campaign to wear a particular color is a gray area in state code that would be judged by how it's promoted, the motivation and the perception. It generally urges teachers to shy away from activities that might be perceived as bringing partisan politics into the classroom, he said.
Locally, education association representatives reported little to no participation.
"I wore blue that day, but I didn't see a lot of other people doing it," said Malia Huddle, president of the Chesapeake Education Association and a career counselor at Oscar Smith High School.
She likened the activity to teachers who wear pink for breast cancer awareness or wore black last year in support of the "Jena Six," a half-dozen black teenagers arrested after racial tensions flared in their Louisiana community.
Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com
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The usual conservative hysteria
Did the union order it's members to wear blue?
Or did a teacher, who happens to be a a union member, ask fellow teachers to wear blue?
Did teachers have a choice? How was the union involved?
The answers are in the story you didn't read.
The conservative reaction here is one of the reasons this country is voting for change. The majority are tired of this foolishness and in November the bluest of Americans will be the anti-Democrat, anti-union, anti-intellectual, anti-everything crowd that has nearly run this country into the ground.
This is Wrong
Neither employers, nor unions, nor military commands should have an organizational bias toward one candidate or another.
A citizens voting preference is a very private, personal matter, that needs to be respected by thier superiors at work. Tort insurance can be bought through your homeowners insurance.....much, much cheaper.
well that sure makes it interesting....
So if my teacher-wife, who happens to like various colors, red, blue, yellow, green, pick, etc. wears BLUE to school she is endorsing a choice? What's next? Uniforms for teachers???
People, get a freaking life!!! Short of wearing a button, leave the teachers alone! They already have enough hassles trying desperately to teach children whose parents may care deeply about politics, but cannot find the time to sit down and held/hold their child accountable for their homework.
NOBAMA
My wife is a teacher and will not join VEA or NEA for this very reason. This so-called union does not represent its membership, but is simply a left wing, liberal organization that spreads its messages thru the school system. It is time to take the politics out of the schools and start firing teachers and union organizers who try to force their views on our kids. Better yet, lets get rid of the public education altogether and let the private sector do it.
swisskid
"In a democracy, it is the media's job to ask the tough questions to see how the candidates respond."
The last time I checked our Constitution says we are a republic and that each state shall have a republican form of government. Refer to Article Four Section 4.
That has been the problem with civics in public education all along. They keep teaching the same lie all these years, it is perceived to be the truth.
Some innacuracies and misconceptions
I totally agree that the VEA (or any other educational organization for that matter) should not endorse candidates for any public office. Teachers should research the candidates themselves and make their own decisions. Politics need to stay out of education. We have all seen what "No Child Left Behind," the brainstorm of politicians has done to education.
I also want to clear up some misinformation from a reader below. The reader writes, "Of course the next contract they want will include a pay raise and if they don't get it they will go on strike. They have conditioned heat and AC. They get a winter break, spring break and many holidays and a lengthy summer break too."
First, Virginia teachers are prohobited from striking because we are not unionized. While we may have AC/heat, they don't always work, and we often are forced to work in classrooms with windows that do not open in temperature
union
I'm a veteran teacher and choose not to be in a union that costs quite a bit to be a member and then proceeds to take that money to use towards a political candidates campaign. I do not wish my money to be used for a candidate that I don't want. I disagree with the way they use teachers dues. When they come trying to get us to join, I tell them why I object and politely say no thanks.
So teachers can, but pastors can't . . .
How does that work? Teachers, in a position of authority over young people, some of them first time voters, can exert their influence to get their students registered to vote for Mr. Obama while on city property.
Pastors, in a position of authority over mostly adults, are not allowed to mention the name of a candidate while in the pulpit of the private property belonging to their church.
I'm confused. Should pastors unionize so they can have freedom of speech, too? Cheers, MGM
Being active in the
Being active in the political process is one of the levers all unions have. Endorsing a candidate is one time honored way for unions to be active. As for the specific act, encouraging everyone to wear blue, if the school system has a problem with this "gray area" they should tighten up the dress code. But this could be a slippery slope. What all counts as political expression?
Most Resent
Most teachers I know including my wife resent the VEA and NEA endorsing any political parties and telling them who they should vote for. Many teachers only belong to these organizations because of the Tort Insurance.
Go Obama!
I love seeing all the wingnut conservatives slobbering all over themselves about the "left-wing media". Any question asked of their candidate that requires any amount of reasonable intelligence to answer is labeled a "gotcha" question. In a democracy, it is the media's job to ask the tough questions to see how the candidates respond. That is how we determine if the candidate is up to the task of the job they seek. The 90 minute Palin "infomercial" presented at the debate was nauseating. How conservatives can think this preprogrammed parrot (wink-wink) should be taken seriously as a candidate for the second highest office in the land shows just how delusional they are. It is time for the last 8 years of horror to end. I am sending my daughter to school on Monday wearing an Obama button.
McCain=unstable
Palin=unable
OBAMA 08!!!
I am Blue
I am Blue when unions like the VEA want to impose their political beliefs in the PUBLIC schools. If McCain supporters tried the same thing there would be such a cry out that it would make your hair stand on end. I like the state education spokesman wishy-washy answer on the policy of wearing blue in the classroom. Must be a demo, too.
VEA members wear blue on your own time not while being on the public dole (in the schools). If you don't like it, take a private job and see if your employer likes your political activity while at work. I think not.
;Blue in the School
The NEA is genius, they took an email to THEIR members, that was not that successful and got inches of news ink and minutes of media coverage FOR FREE!!!! Because the insecure and kneejerk conservatives again took the bait and railed up against a non issue. For those who think the schools are non political, you need to wake up. Most districts have ELECTED school boards, most have PTAs which not only have lobbyists but organize campaigns at the local level during budget hearings and school board meetings. And notice that Obama got lots of FREE publicity while McCain got NONE....not to forget that teachers are generally respected members of the community, and their support goes a long way to influencing voters...good work conservatives...You not only made yourselves look petty by railing over a yawner of an issue, but you let the NEA get their political position out all over the country FOR F
Ironic Justice is just weeks away
October 23 through the 31st,(the last week before the election), through the Nation, it's RED Ribbon week against Drugs and Violence, everyone is encouraged to adorn tress and lamp post with red ribbons, the governor will read a proclamation declaring the Week, Red Ribbon week and for parents and children and virginians in general, to wear red, to support the movement against Drugs and Violence. This will be the 20th anniversary of the event.
So regardless of what Ms. Boitnott thought she was going to get a way with, whitewashing our children's thought's into thinking blue is solidarity in school and, by not wearing it, would be cause for rejection from their peers and maybe affecting the behavior of our new fresh teachers just starting out in a school with this conercion.
Because of this action I have instructed all family, church and associates to ban blue from their ward robe until afte
Another Example
Another example of "Union Leaders" dictating to the workers what they are suppose to do as they say. Also another example at ALL levels of education showing the Liberal influence on American youth. Don't think for yourself students but do as we say. This mornings Liberal newspaper, VA-Pilot had 1 pro Palin and 4 anti-Palin letters. The editorial pages each and everyday are vastly overbearing for the Liberals train of thought. I have never believed in Unions and this is a prime example and thank goodness this state and some others have the Right-To-Work law. Amazing when union leaders tell their people to strike and they do, do the Union Leaders salaries suffer?? NO, but the members wages do as all they get is a percentage of what they make if they are lucky. Keep politics out of the school as it is bad enough we have to listen to lies on TV and the radio. Teach the students what they are suppose to learn, Reading, Writing, History and Arithmetic. They are having hard enough times doing that let alone try to brain wash them with political thoughts of the teacher or its union.
Shocking insight
Here's something you all hadn't considered: not all teachers are VEA members. I am not a VEA member. Why? I don't want a group to represent what I believe in. Guess what! I'm not a Republican. I am an independent, although I am more and more leaning left. And guess what else! When a child asks me who I'm voting for, or any other political question, I tell them that I can't say because I don't want to influence their thoughts. I am a public school teacher and as such, I do not believe I have the right to tell my kids what they should or shouldn't believe. I also do not believe I should have to belong to a union to have legal protection in case I am sued (which is why many people join). I am not the only teacher who is like this.
A captive audience is what these teachers have.
There are so many good teachers out there who have to put up with their profession of choice being used and abused by bad teachers or teachers who make bad decisions. Of course the next contract they want will include a pay raise and if they don't get it they will go on strike. They have conditioned heat and AC. They get a winter break, spring break and many holidays and a lengthy summer break too. Most of us blue collar workers can only dream for this kind of working environment and yet WE pay for them to have a comfortable job. The classroom is NOT a place for teachers to express their view. Oh yeah it is a PUBLIC owned classroom, churches ARE NOT public owned yet Pastors can have their tax exemp status revoked. Isn't that the government "prohibiting the free exercise thereof"?
cFrederick
How many times do we see Democratic candidates in african-american churches speaking from the pulpit? If its not good for repubs, then make the dems stop too.
educators
(Besides, she said, no one but the participants would know why they were wearing blue.)
someone that is supposed to be educated and teach the youth,do you think people are that stupid?it is thinking like this that gets you in trouble in the first place.a young person would know faster than most adults that something was different.give me a break and stop treating people like our educated leaders do by thinking we all are a bunch of bumpkins.
You republicans should be
You republicans should be scared. Because we are coming in large numbers.
Hmmm...
The VEA president's sister is the VEA's assistant director of government relations...
One of the major issues with the NEA and its state subsidiaries is the issue of large, highly compensated staffs that have little to do with educating students. There is money to be made in education, just not in the classroom.
Double standard
If people believe the "this is no big deal," then send your children to school EVERY DAY wearing something red and see how fast you are notified that they need to 'wear something else.'
Simply Amazing...
The partial facts given by some posters are simply amazing!
VEA
has lost sight of their purpose. They no longer care about furthering education and backing teachers. They focus on politics almost exclusively! They have sold their mailing list to the Democratic party. I now receive literature almost daily from Dems and I'm NOT a dem! I'm now looking into ending my membership. I'm tired of paying for someone else's political agenda!
what'd you expect
the national extortion association and its subsidiaries have always been a puppet of the democoms. like all unions, they are forced to give money to the commies or risk being teminated.
VEA
The VEA doesn't care about the education or welfare of our children. They only care about their salary and tenure.
Wear Your Colors To School
Isn't this what we are telling the students exactly not to do?
It's just a color. Just like Pink for Breast cancer awareness. Just like purple for Relay For Life. Just like Blue for Crips and Red for Bloods. What's wrong with a color?
I know your reading this
Come on Pilot! Report on Obama's links to Raines. Report on Franks links to not only FM but his boyfriend who worked there. How about Schumer and Dodd? Waht about the legislation that counters what you have already reported about McCain.
Stand up and act like a source of news.
Government Networks
I would like to see the policy that this government entity has in place for using an official network system for personal or political purposes. Under my policy, I would be reprimanded or fired. Signed: Government Worker
I feel that it is of poor
I feel that it is of poor taste to use my dime and my time for your political views. I am a taxpayer and our money pays your wages. Don't use your capitive audience of school children to voice your opinion on. Its a vagrant use of authority. There is a time and place for your politics. I send my student to school for an unbias education.
It sounds to me that by pulling this "Blue Day". Its just another way of making people and students feel that they are outsider, if they aren't wearing blue!
How dare you pull this within our schools.
Comparing a charity like breast cancer to a political stunt is stomach churning to me. I lost my mother to breast cancer and I have a best friend who is fighting it now. How dare you...
An illness isn't a choice...politics is !