[Note: Links and materials referenced in an archived posting may have expired.]

MTA President calls Paige remark 'reckless and irresponsible'

MTA President Catherine A. Boudreau has condemned a remark by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige in which he called the National Education Association "a terrorist organization."

The remark, made Feb. 23 at a White House meeting for governors, was "an affront to the people who teach our nation's children," Boudreau said.

"Paige's remark would have been ignorant and tasteless coming from anyone," she continued. "Coming from the Secretary of Education, it is also incredibly reckless and irresponsible."

Boudreau praised U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy for responding to Paige's comment on the floor of the Senate and for honoring the dedication of Massachusetts educators. During his remarks, the senator cited four individual Massachusetts public school teachers.

"Secretary Paige owes every one of NEA's 2.7 million members an apology," Boudreau said. "And he owes it to the nation to redirect his energies to help secure for public schools and teachers the resources they need to do their jobs."

NEA President Reg Weaver said of Paige's remark, "It is morally repugnant to equate those who teach America's children with terrorists.  NEA is 2.7 million teachers and educators who are fighting for children and public education.  Yet this is the kind of rhetoric we have come to expect from this administration whenever one challenges its world view."