Letter to the editor: Teaching critical race theory an issue for local districts, not NEA

I’ve been my association’s local union president for 18 years and a social studies teacher for 25 years. Many of my members (myself included) are angry and disappointed that the National Education Association would make a public statement supporting critical race theory. Did the NEA survey its membership to gauge its support for CRT? No, it didn’t. Does the NEA realize that many of its members are conservative? Evidently, it doesn’t .

I have no idea why the NEA pokes its nose in political and social issues, alienating half of its membership and infuriating half of the taxpayers who pay our salaries.

Whether or not CRT is taught is mostly a local issue, not something our national union should advocate one way or another. CRT, along with other equally dubious theories such as intelligent design, at most could be offered as an elective, not as a required course.

I think that much of the NEA’s membership would appreciate it if the NEA leadership either surveys its members before making any public statements like this, or refrains from commenting on political and social issues altogether.

Shaun Rinier

Penn Township, Westmoreland County

The writer is president of the Penn-Trafford Education Association.