Why Is Jim Rex Hobnobbing with the NEA?

The National Education Association (NEA)? Hardly a powerhouse in South Carolina, which, after all, is a right-to-work state. I haven't seen statistics on unionized teachers in this state, but I can believe that percentage is very low. Certainly CCSD is not organized.

So I find it strange that State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex was more than happy to accept the funding of Communities for Quality Education. CQE "hosted a roundtable discussion between South Carolina Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and a group of SC high school students. The students shared their top education concerns and then submitted that concern via YouTube to the Presidential candidates in advance of the July 23rd primary debate." How sweet.

It turns out that Rex moderated a discussion that was carefully led into areas of interest to the NEA--measures such teacher tenure and curriculum reform, the No Child Left Behind Act, merit pay, school vouchers, and many accountability reforms. Communities for Quality Education is a shill for the NEA and is funded by the NEA, one of the most vocal opponents of real reform in public schools.

For shame, Jim!