From the Academy

The Educationist Power Elite

When I was in Indianapolis some months ago, my view of the Indiana Capitol was obstructed by a tall, expensive new office-building of glass and steel, right across the street from the Capitol, and blotting out the seat of the legislature from several angles. The new building is the headquarters of the Indiana teachers’ association: the most powerful lobby in Indianapolis, and obviously the richest. Its overshadowing of the Indiana Capitol is sufficiently symbolic: for in Indiana, as in Washington and in nearly every state of the Union, the teachers’ lobby is more powerful, better financed, and less scupulous than any other lobby. Even the great labor unions play second fiddle to the educationists. (In Washington, the National Education Association which shouts angrily about teachers’ poverty-recently dedicated its new NEA Center, “workshop, center and symbol,” costing $8,250,000.)

RK

About the Author

Russell Kirk

Featured Tags

The Educationist Power Elite

When I was in Indianapolis some months ago, my view of the Indiana Capitol was obstructed by a tall, expensive new office-building of glass and steel, right across the street from the Capitol, and blotting out the seat of the legislature from several angles. The new building is the headquarters of the Indiana teachers’ association: the most powerful lobby in Indianapolis, and obviously the richest. Its overshadowing of the Indiana Capitol is sufficiently symbolic: for in Indiana, as in Washington and in nearly every state of the Union, the teachers’ lobby is more powerful, better financed, and less scupulous than any other lobby. Even the great labor unions play second fiddle to the educationists. (In Washington, the National Education Association which shouts angrily about teachers’ poverty-recently dedicated its new NEA Center, “workshop, center and symbol,” costing $8,250,000.)