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National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel talks to Alan about Mitt Romney’s statement that he loves teachers.
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-- -- -- -- Welcome to the show.
Blair welcome and Dennis -- -- -- he is president the National Education Association.
Do you think -- put -- back -- the -- this could have young.
And you think the the debates adequately address the education issue.
I think we got a lot of good information about education in the debates I think we got a very clear picture of two candidates who have very different visions Romney.
Mitt Romney who close to -- the game but doesn't deliver in terms of real policies for education and President Obama who is from the first day started campaigning.
He's delivered for education the commitment to from -- Came here early childhood education all the way through graduate school -- pell -- itself.
I think President Obama has really.
Made -- case that he's the way forward for education country.
One addressed to you with you what you think that -- which would be -- -- elected the first -- here is done.
The board Romney said yesterday.
And that's why it's so critical that we make America once again the most attractive place in the world to start businesses to build jobs to grow the economy and that's not gonna happen.
By just hiring teachers look at I loved to have I love teachers and I'm happy -- -- states and communities that want to hire teachers do that I.
But what I I don't want to have the federal government start pushing its way deeper and deeper into -- schools let the states and localities do that I was a governor the federal government and hire teachers.
But I but I I love teachers but I want to get our private sector growing and I know how to do I think we all loved teachers.
They don't hear that -- he left teachers.
-- it was -- but -- you know like teachers union and it's just unbelievable that they can divided -- You know the high school math teacher for 23 year and the reason I got the union is because I wanted to voice about the policies that impact -- -- in my classroom.
So you can't separate -- from a union that is the union is made up of people like me.
-- remember that every teachers of the union right.
Well not everyone that I believe that that's where the voice comes from when -- percent TJ and I believe -- Cared enough and -- work hard enough I can deliver for all of my students which used to realize that's not true.
Because all the decisions are made outside of your classroom and if you wanna -- then you have to have an organization that speaks for the very people.
Who spend their lives in education delivering for students every single day and that's why during the unions.
What is the difference between -- Romney presidency and an Obama when we already have four years of Obama.
Has he done enough and what -- the next four years mean regard him depending upon which person becomes president or stays president.
President Obama hasn't done enough but I know that he's willing to do -- Well because in our country we just have real challenges this economic crisis has really impacted students.
And education.
And his states have struggled with this economic crisis and trying to build their budgets mean.
President Obama -- 400000.
Education jobs so we still looked over 300000 educators when all -- -- adults left the system.
The students were still there they needed a ride to school they need to -- cook.
Nutritious breakfast or lunch they needed teachers in the classroom.
So I mean Romney says that he loves -- but he doesn't want to hire more while the world -- -- students are gonna get an education if you don't provide that adults who actually do that.
President Obama has made this commitment to education he understands the power of education for the individual to follow their dream.
For economics except that everyone has in the 21 century.
-- -- What's Obama gonna do that Romney would.
Well number one -- in the east committed to education Romney doesn't believe the jobs for teachers and educators are important they are.
Because when the students are there they need adults to deliver the education.
Romney is governor of massachusetts' cut funds for education laid off -- raise tuition at colleges and universities.
You know everybody doesn't have the resources he has when he talked about having all the education you can afford.
In this country there are a lot of middle class Americans -- with the price of college can't -- afford that we've got to find a way to deal with -- the cost of college we got to find a way to.
Promote early childhood education we gotta provide education for every.
-- -- -- -- -- just throw money at the problem though doesn't solve the problem throwing money at schools throwing money at public schools doesn't really help.
May give people a better education and we already spend the other side will say more money -- other countries per student on education.
In America it's really a special place to live and to grow up in -- that we believe that every student has said that shouted their entry.
That they have -- have opportunity of access and we educate them all and that's really important.
And throwing money isn't the answer but providing resources to education to that every child as a chance that is the answer.
Economic.
Development in this country will -- walked right through the classrooms of America and if you deny education to the young people for the adults who are trying to be retrained.
Because jobs.
Have been shipped overseas.
Education is -- -- key to success.
Robinson ever Cisco you know -- and -- go ahead.
Yeah -- trouble paying one.
I mean the thing is that there I think a lot of the people that are upset about the unions you can delineate the union from the teachers because that they yet.
A lot of people don't really what unions -- don't want and they are taking money out of your paycheck.
To line their pockets and all the union higher up.
Members.
That money don't these people what you would agree wit that's one thing.
Well and all of a sudden -- there -- so let's let's -- a mr.
-- a chance respond to that charge.
Well you know -- out of high school went to -- 23 years they've been a member of -- union for a long long time and the union is made up of the people who joy it's voluntary we choose to spend their money there because we -- a -- and public education.
-- I have no problem was saying to members and advocating for them in the policies that help them deliver education to kids the union is the members the members are the union.
Yes you're talking points but like that and try to make -- there are many jobs.
Thank you cannot -- -- or your burger here you're very isolated.
If you don't join a union and the union -- people in the voting a certain way they've they've got money and -- certain.
Political parties and daughter agreed with an opinion on an engineer and -- what I don't need a union to protect.
-- -- you know about -- balance forcing you to vote a certain -- If what is it all right want it -- union -- all -- wanted to ought.
-- work like a teacher or an error or machine.
-- they traditionally have unions forced upon you.
I -- on -- money is getting taken out my paycheck in the form of union dues and that money is -- used to bond.
Political -- means.
Ultimately you know using -- on pensions and health care.
And whole bunch I've been -- union oil well it's of these unions I ordered.
And the union -- -- this is a typical playing tennis petty respond to two on an outlet to and Leno Arnold -- hold on -- I was number one yeah.
-- union dues to contribute to any candidate that illegal all -- so.
Thought about you -- -- hear the answer and we'll listen to -- I'll let you hang -- you can -- look at it.
And number one we did not we have voluntary political action funds that people give and that is the money that goes directly to candidates.
Not dues money of course we use dues money to talk to our own members about the issues we're very proud of how we and you speak to our members about -- security issues.
Here's candidate one -- candidate -- how they feel about issues in tech students and education and our members obviously get to choose how to vote.
But as -- union -- we care about education we care about the students we teach and yes we're gonna advocate for those students and the policies we believe.
That will best suit and help the students.
W believe as a union had that teachers have a serve and only for Obama sure many teachers are gonna vote for round.
Why that's -- beauty of America you get to vote for who you want but I'm telling you -- large percentage of our members of very large percentage will support President Obama because he believes in education.
-- the commitment he has his vision about.
Education in America that it should be for every single child not as Mitt Romney says only those who can afford it or whose parents can give them alone.
President Obama believes that every child -- -- have a access to a quality public education that's what NEA believes that's what our members -- and that's why we support -- I don't own mark in buffalo within this -- go ahead -- You know -- church in buffalo they're trying to -- really trying to he's five he used on the teachers.
-- charter schools and that's all I -- all over the television.
This charter schools.
Advertising on television announcing any public schools advertising a television that there tax money -- -- example advertise.
As -- a bad idea -- of the charter schools are good or bad idea is that taking money out of the public school system.
In and of themselves charter schools are not either good nor bad it's whether they do the job and the study of all the charters schools in America show that only 17% do better than public schools.
37%.
Do worse.
I don't think that's a good investment.
I think we -- to make sure that kids get what they mean school.
We've got to invest in public school you're right we don't have funds -- regular public school to advertise because there's not a problem -- What we care about her kids and how to provide the best education for every single one of those student.
The social compact in this country for decades has been that every child gets a chance to get a public education.
And when you deny public schools money you're hurting the course of the for those who can't get -- other schools that's been my position.
-- probably agree with them and.
Absolutely you know I grew up with a small town of 17100.
I have to live my dream and I decided in the country that wanted to be a teacher.
I got to teach math for 23 years I want that true for every single student in America and -- just for a few opus but.
Crawl and mr.
-- oracle appreciate is always talking to you thanks for coming on the pro -- -- -- thank you sir that is tennis fans local president of the national.
Education association -- largest teacher's union.
