Regardless of who you support for president, I think we can all agree that we should keep partisan politics out of the schools. Our schools are NOT political parties or political organizations. Our schools are supposed to be safe, harassment free institutions of learning. In case you didn’t get the memo, the Virgina Teacher’s Union sponsored an “Obama Blue Day” on Tuesday, September 30. Here’s the story:

The Virginia Education Association sponsored ‘Obama Blue Day’ on Tuesday. In an e-mail sent last week, it urged teachers to participate by dressing in blue. ‘There are people out there not yet registered. You teach some of them,’ the Sept. 25 e-mail reads. ‘Others, including our members, remain on the fence! Its time for us to come together, voice our unity, because we make a difference!’ ‘Let’s make Obama Blue Day a day of Action!’ the e-mail continues. ‘Barack the vote!’

Encouraging students to register to vote is a wonderful and noble act; however, creating an environment to coerce or affect colleague and student votes or queuing students how to vote is another. If Republicans were organizing an effort like this for Bush or McCain I would be equally outraged. This is inappropriate in the workplace and it’s inappropriate in schools. These spaces should be free from partisan politics to avoid creating hostile and harassing work/learning environments.

The hyper-partisan and coercive nature of this GOTV effort crosses the line. We have seen the Obama campaign’s ugly, undemocratic voter intimidation at the polls. I am very concerned where efforts like this lead. By asking supporters to identify themselves in blue, nonsupporters or those who wish not to participate are identified and can be targeted. For those fearful of being targeted, they simply go along with the group to avoid confrontation. In the zeal to elect a candidate, some are throwing out their common sense and common decency. The ends do not justify the means.

Crossposted at Alegre’s Corner and Partizane

[Update 1] Someone in another thread asked if this was legal. I don’t know, but something should be done. It creates a hostile work environment and the Virginia Education Association could be sued for harassment, which opens the school system up to lawsuits. It might take a lawsuit to get this kind of behavior to stop.

Pacific John provided another instance during the primary in Gary IN, the press documented high school students let out of school early, and sent on school buses to vote for Obama. Here is one account (starting at 6:20):

[Update 2] The “Push Obama at Work/School” came from the National Education Association and was sent to some Virginia Education Association (VEA) administrators who then in turn sent it out to some teachers — so says, VEA President, Kitty Boitnott. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Boitnott said:

The event announcement was sent from the National Education Association to some VEA administrators, who passed the note along on Sept. 25 to a “limited list of local association leaders and members who have volunteered to receive information about political activities.”

Kitty is trying to cover VEA litter. When you read the rest of her statement next to the email that was sent to “association leaders and members” you’ll see that she is a liar. Below is the email sent to Virginia teacher’s, then the statement Kitty released, lying about the contents of the email. From CBS 6 – WTVR, Richmond, VA:

The following is the text of the email:

What an exciting and historic election season this has been so far. Virginia has seen Barack, Joe Biden, and Michelle in forums and rallies throughout the state from Russell County to Norfolk and Martinsville to Fredericksburg with Charlottesville and Richmond in between. We have helped register thousands of young voters in neighborhoods and on college campuses. On the dark side we hear chilling stories of how college students and minorities are being discouraged to vote. We must do our part to promote fair and honest elections in our state.

There are people out there not yet registered. You teach some of them. Others, including our members, remain on the fence! Its time for us to come together, voice our unity, because we make a difference ! Your next chance to help with the campaign is coming up … and it is very simple to do.

Tuesday is OBAMA BLUE DAY!!! Tuesday, September 30, 2008 everyone is asked to do two things:

1) WEAR BLUE -don’t wear an NEA for Obama shirt to school, but wear something else blue
2) REGISTER TWO VOTERS OR talk to two people who may be on the fence / or a McCain supporter and sway them to become a Obama Supporter).

LETS MAKE OBAMA BLUE DAY a DAY OF ACTION!!!! BARACK THE VOTE!!!!!! PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYBODY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING!!! [emphasis added]

Here is the statement VEA President, Kitty Boitnott, released about the email sent to teachers:

The Virginia Education Association encourages its members to be politically active, but it does not encourage teachers to use their classrooms for partisan political purposes .

On September 25, VEA distributed an email to a limited list of local association leaders and members who have volunteered to receive information about political activities. The email advised these leaders of the national Obama Blue day.

The email encouraged these leaders to wear blue shirts, but advised that they should not wear shirts that mentioned a candidate. It also asked the association leaders to register two people to vote or to talk with two people about the Obama recommendation.

The email did not encourage teachers to talk with students about voting for any specific candidate, although it did suggest that teachers can encourage eligible students to register to vote. There certainly is nothing wrong with encouraging students who are 18 years of age or older to register to vote.

Teachers hold an important and respected role in our society. We would never encourage them to misuse that role for political purposes. [emphasis added]

Is Kitty a liar? Hell yes! Call the Virginia Education Association and let them know that this is inappropriate in our schools.

VEA President: Kitty Boitnott
Tel: 804-648-5801 or 800-552-9554
Fax: 804-775-8379
Hours: Monday-Friday from 8:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Contact the National Education Association using their online feedback form and let them know that this is inappropriate in our schools. You can also call or fax them.

NEA President: Dennis Van Roekel
Tel: (202) 833-4000
Fax: (202) 822-7974
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET