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NEA President Reg Weaver In the Media

NEA President Reg Weaver actively promotes the Association's message by providing commentary on important education issues of the day. Here are samples of those efforts. These are updated constantly, so please check back regularly.

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Is Merit Pay for Teachers A Good Idea?

"--Merit pay is presented as a daring attempt to infuse public schools with the best practices from business and industry. Yet enthusiasm with the concept far outpaces the data supporting its effectiveness.

--In fact, merit pay has been touted as a panacea for what ails public schools for several generations. The reason it isn’t already in place all across the country is that it doesn’t work. It does nothing to improve teaching and learning, it makes teachers competitors rather than collaborators, and it takes the focus away from doing what we know does work — paying every teacher a living wage commensurate with their training and experience, says NEA President Reg Weaver."

Ripon Forum
June/July 2008

Pushing Open the Door of Opportunity

"When Albert Einstein was a child, he was so slow in learning to speak that his parents consulted a doctor. There are many children in our schools today who have the potential to contribute great things to our nation, but we can't tell who they are on the basis of standardized tests in one or two subjects," says NEA President Reg Weaver.

The Daily Voice op-ed contributor 
May 19, 2008

Shaky Economy Calls for Firm Commitment to Education

"This presidential campaign has been going on for a long time, and there is still a long way to go. As voters, we can't sit back and passively wait to be stupefied by an onslaught of advertising. We must demand that the candidates articulate their vision for public education in the 21st century," says NEA President Reg Weaver.

The Daily Voice op-ed contributor
March 18, 2008

In Our Schools: Educators' Weigh In

"N.E.A. members are participating in the political process as delegates to the Democratic and Republican conventions to bring the voices of educators into the debate. If we are a wild card in this presidential race, it's only to the extent that the major candidates have yet to articulate their long-term vision for guaranteeing a great public school education for every child," says NEA President Reg Weaver.

The New York Times letter-to-the-editor
March 18, 2008

Parents Must Become More Active in Education Process

"Ask any teacher what they want, and they'll tell you: more parental involvement," says NEA President Reg Weaver. He outlines how educators can connect with parents "so they can see that we, like them, are dedicated to their children succeeding."

Business First of Louisville opinion page
Jan. 18, 2008

Weaver: Educators Must Be Heard on NCLB

On No Child Left Behind, NEA President Reg Weaver challenges The Washington Post to give voices from the classroom the same prominence as politicians and pundits.

The Washington Post letter-to-the-editor 
Dec. 1, 2007

Reject Federal Pay Plan in NCLB Draft

In draft language to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, the House Education and Labor Committee proposes a federal mandate that ties teacher compensation to student test scores. In this opinion piece, NEA President Reg Weaver rejects this proposal and calls for federal dollars to be invested in competitive salaries for all teachers, quality professional development, and better working conditions.

USA Today Opposing View
Sept. 13, 2007

No Child Left Behind Needs Improvement

In the New York Times, NEA President Reg Weaver clarifies the Association's position on No Child Left Behind as the House Education Committee issues draft language for the law’s reauthorization.

The New York Times letter-to-the-editor
Sept. 10, 2007

What Will It Take to Truly Leave No Child Behind?

With the House Education Committee beginning hearings on the No Child Left Behind Act's reauthorization, NEA President Reg Weaver offers his views on the legislation and what might improve it.

The Washington Post opinion page
Sept. 10, 2007

NCLB Mandates Give Key Subjects Short Shrift

With school administrators under pressure to improve test scores in reading and math, other important subjects – like history, social studies, art and music – are pushed to the back burner. In this opinion piece, NEA President Reg Weaver says these subjects build critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and cautions against narrowing the curriculum.

USA Today Opposing View 
Aug. 6, 2007

Education in the 2008 Election

The campaign for the 2008 presidential election is well underway – but where is the national discussion on public education? In an opinion editorial, NEA President Reg Weaver urges voters to learn where the candidates stand on issues that will shape our future—starting with public education.

Athens (GA) Banner-Herald 
May 14, 2007

2007 the time to fix flaws in No Child Left Behind Act

NEA President Reg Weaver advocates for a positive agenda for improving ESEA’s No Child Left Behind law so it can truly achieve the goal of giving every child a quality education.

Tucson Citizen guest opinion
February 1, 2007

To boost students and teachers, steer clear of merit pay on the road to reform

NEA President Reg Weaver advises policymakers to steer clear of merit pay on the road to reform in an opinion editorial published in The Christian Science Monitor.

Christian Science Monitor guest opinion
Nov. 13, 2006

Sounding the alarm on the dropout crisis in urban communities

In the Chicago Defender, the nation's largest Black daily newspaper, NEA President Reg Weaver presents a comprehensive plan to reduce dropouts and turn the tide on this silent epidemic.

Chicago Defender guest editorial
Oct. 11, 2006

Curbing dropouts by raising the exit age

With 30 percent of high school students slipping through the cracks of our educational system, educators and political leaders are looking for solutions. In an opinion editorial published in several daily newspapers, NEA President Reg Weaver says one answer worth exploring is making a high school diploma or its equivalent mandatory for all students below the age of 21.

The San Diego Union-Tribune op-ed
Oct. 6, 2006

Setting the Record Straight

NEA President Reg Weaver clarifies the Association's political and union activities in The Hill, a leading news provider for policymakers and opinion leaders in Washington, D.C.

The Hill letter-to-the-editor (scroll down to second letter)
Oct. 3, 2006

Education Funding for All, Not Some

In the New York Times, NEA President Reg Weaver speaks out on the issue of "weighted school financing," a misguided proposal for funding the nation's public schools.

The New York Times letter-to-the-editor
July 4, 2006