Press Release

For Immediate Release, February 26, 2004
Contact: Gabriela Lemus, 202-833-6130

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens is extremely disappointed in Secretary of Education Rod Paige’s decision to attack the National Education Association (NEA). Equating teachers to terrorists demeans the office of the Secretary of Education and any high level official that represents the United States world-wide.  The Secretary should be looking for solutions to the complex problems facing public education, not vilifying practitioners, LULAC says. 

“We understand that we are living in a world of rough-and-tumble politics, but there is no room in civil discourse to speak about education and the educational needs of our children in that manner,” said LULAC National President Hector Flores. “This is not the 3^rd Ward in Houston.  Our teachers should be treated with respect.” 

LULAC National exhorts Secretary Paige to apologize formally to the NEA and to all teachers.  The Secretary should be finding ways to reach the very practitioners that are trying to implement the ideas of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).   

“By attacking teachers, Secretary Paige only serves to mobilize resistance to the acceptance and promotion of the higher standards established by NCLB.  We are very concerned that the Secretary’s comments will antagonize the practitioners who are working hard to prepare our future generations of leaders.  This type of behavior is an affront to our social values as Americans and to public educators nationwide,” Flores added. 

“Just as you demand the highest standards of our children, we equally demand the highest standards of our appointed and elected officials,” stated Flores.  “The most critical issue at hand is the well-being of the children attending public schools across the nation – all children. Attacking the individuals that they love and admire most is sure to damage the image of education and educators throughout the country.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States.  LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

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