Choice differs with McCain on most public education issues MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 29
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement
can be attributed to NEA President Reg Weaver, who is attending the Republican
National Convention in Minneapolis, Minn.:
"The 3.2 million members of the National Education Association are
pleasantly surprised by Senator John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor
Sarah Palin to join his ticket as the Republican nominee for vice president.
"While she is only in her second year as Alaska's Governor, she has thus
far shown herself to be a supporter of children and public education. She
comes from a family of educators. Her father was a teacher, her brother is a
teacher, and her mother was an education support professional.
"In her less than two years as the state's chief executive officer, she
was able to increase per-pupil education spending, and she is opposed to
sending public money to support private schools through political schemes like
vouchers.
"Her selection, however, has certainly taken the issue of experience off
the table for political debate."
Governor Palin participated in NEA Alaska's candidate recommendation
process when she ran for the post. You can view her candidate interview with
NEA-Alaska and her formal candidate questionnaire on NEA Alaska's website.
Interview with NEA-Alaska
http://www.neaalaska.org/acaf/gub%20palin%20interview%20responses090906.htm
Response to NEA-Alaska questionnaire
http://www.neaalaska.org/election06/gov_palin.htm
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional
employee organization, representing 3.2 million elementary and secondary
teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school
administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.
SOURCE National Education Association
