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The Beginning
The NTA (National Teachers Association) is founded in 1857 after Thomas W. Valentine sends out "The Call". 43 educators unite in Philadelphia to become the voice of public education. -
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History of the National Education Association
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ATA
The first black teachers associaton, American Teachers Association is formed. -
End of the Cival War
NTA denounces slavery and recommends that no seceded states be readmitted to the Union until they agree to provide free public education for all children of color. -
NTA opens its membership
NTA opens its memebership to "persons" rather than just "gentlemen" thus allowing membership to women educators. Many states however continue to bar married women from becoming teachers -
Political Power
NTA wins its first major legislative victory by lobbying congress to establish a Federal Department of Education. -
Changes
NTA becomes the NEA National Education Asssociation after absorbing three snmaller organizations -
Department of Indian Affaris
NEA forms the Department of Indian Affairs to research how the government's policy of isolation and assimilation negatively impacts education. -
The NEA and Industrialization
Concerned over the health and education of America's children the NEA shifts its focus on state and federal prohibitions against using children in industry -
50th Anniversary
The NEA moves from being led by education administrators to an organization led by teachers -
An NEA first!
The NEA elects its first female President Ella Flagg. -
The Birth of a Political Power
The NEA becomes a representative assembly compsed of delegates from affiliated states. Thus allowing the NEA to negotiate with Congress. -
Seperate but not equal
Recognizing the injustices place on black students due to the Supreme Courts ruling on "Seperate but Equal" . The NEA and ATA (American Teachers Association) form their first Joint Committee to address the inequality of Black education in America. This becomes the catalyst for the evaluation and accreditation process of all Black schools -
The NEA and the Great Depression
The NEA focuses all of its attention on the plight of schools during the Great Deperession. It become a memeber of the newly created Federal Advisory Committee on the Emergency of Education. Under the NEA's direction federal funds begin flowing to schools in dire need of assistance. -
World War II
The NEA plays an active role in the War effort by promoting the sale of Defense Bonds, while aggressively lobbying Congress to pass the GI Bill. As a result more than 2 million Vets attend college over the next 7 years. HIGHER EDUCATION IS NO LONGER A PRIVLEGE JUST FOR THE ELITE -
Advocate for CHANGE
NEA contributes large sums of money to the Brown v. BOE defense fund, having direct impact on the desegregation of all American schools. -
Growth
The NEA celebrates its Centennial Birthday with over 700,000 members -
Transformation
Wisconsin becomes the first state to pass a collective bargaining act for public employess. This law ushers in an era of teacher bargaining that would forever transform the NEA -
The NEA & Civil Rights
The NEA estabishes a $1 million dollar fund to protect and promote the professional, civil, and human rights of educators. This fund is in reaction to the termination of hundreds of Black teachers across 17 states. Teachers that were terminated as a result of Brown v BOE -
March on Selma
NEA organizes hundreds of individuals to march on Montgomery in support of their southern colleagues -
Unity
The NEA and ATA a traditionally Black teacher organization merge.
This unifacation reinforces the NEA commitment to the Civil Rights Movement -
Another first
The NEA elects its first Black President Elizabeth Duncan Koontz
Simultaneously creates a Human and Civil Rights Division -
NEA TODAY
Today's agenda Professional Pay: advocating for a $40,000 starting salary for all PreK-12 teachers Rewriting and Improving NCLB Education Funding: restore/increase funding to help ensure great public schooling for every child Minority Community Outreach: Closing Achievement Gaps
