Party Nation

NEA Today, Nov 2004

Lights burned brightly across America on September 22 as supporters of public education gathered to talk about our schools. Tens of thousands of participants attended 3,600 "house parties" in homes, libraries, schools, and other meeting places-from a chapel in Maui to a brewery on Cape Cod-to put education high on the national agenda. A coalition of more than 50 pro-public school organizations, including NEA, sponsored the events, which included a Los Angeles party attended by NEA President Reg Weaver, actress Helen Hunt, and California Teachers Association President Barbara Kerr.

"Republican or Democrat, people in our community are concerned about our children's education and our future," said William Innes, a Republican teacher in Vallejo, California. "The folks who met at my house believe the White House and Congress haven't done enough for public education."