The National Education Association (NEA) held its annual Representative Assembly in early July. Educators from across the U.S. demonstrated more solidarity with the working class than I have noticed in recent history - but we’ve a long way to go as a revolutionary communist outlook is necessary.
NEA is the largest teachers’ association in the United States whose leadership continues to be completely tethered to the capitalist duopoly but rank-and-file educators from across the U.S. took steps to challenge the status quo. While many new business items (NBIs) reflected a growing hatred of the Donald Trump administration (calling Trump fascist is now NEA-educator approved), I met more educators who expressed a stronger class understanding than I had in previous years.
The struggle to win people over to a revolutionary outlook started long ago, but gained momentum in recent years, particularly in response to the U.S. and Britain-backed Israeli war on its neighbors. Educators have been doxxed, investigated and fired for publicly supporting Palestine or criticising Israel.
At the 2024 Representative Assembly (RA) of the NEA, Progressive Labor Party joined with Educators for Palestine in a rally at the NEA Representative Assembly and participated in a campaign to pass resolutions against the genocide in Gaza. We spoke, leafletted, shared CHALLENGE and stood up to Zionist protestors in Philadelphi (see CHALLENGE, 8/14/24). In response, the NEA essentially cancelled its conference and locked out its own staff. This year was a different story.
This year’s debate over the role of Zionist propaganda in our curriculums came to a halt with the vote to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The ADL pretends to be a civil rights organization but has proven again and again to be “ a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ - an increasingly brutal mouthpiece for the Zionist state of Israel.
A basic analysis of the RA reminds us that we cannot take any small wins for granted. For example, the RA voted overwhelmingly to ‘take bold action’ and ‘unite for the common good’ by ‘organizing [for May Day, 2026] across the public and private sector for racial, economic and social justice’.
The acknowledgement of May Day and acknowledgement that organizing across unions was an incredible moment! But most of us have seen, first hand, that the Democrats will co-opt May Day and destroy the left if it can. Many rank-and-file teachers I spoke with understand the real meaning behind May Day. PLP will continue to continue to struggle with each other to maintain the revolutionary momentum, May Day and the need for class struggle.
