{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","slug":"educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","title":"Educator Claims Teachers Unions Prioritize Power Over Instruction","subtitle":"Michael Greer alleges NEA and CTA have shifted focus from teaching to political influence.","excerpt":"A retired special education teacher claims major US teachers unions, including the NEA and CTA, have abandoned classroom instruction to pursue political power. Independent analyses show these unions have spent hundreds of millions on political activities and advocacy.","category":"Politics","area":null,"publishedAt":"2026-11-08T00:25:18.760Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-11-07T22:36:53.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-11-08T00:25:18.760Z","readTime":"4 min read","scores":{"trust":60,"critic":65,"hype":45,"notes":{"trust":"Two full reports and four digests cite two watchdog groups for financial data on teachers unions.","critic":"The story is clearly written and attributes claims to the sources, but lacks quotes from union representatives.","hype":"The headline accurately reflects the content, but the use of 'abandoned' and 'exclusively' adds mild sensationalism."}},"tags":["#TeachersUnions","#NEA","#CTA","#Education","#PoliticalSpending","#MichaelGreer"],"entities":["Michael Greer","National Education Association (NEA)","California Teachers Association (CTA)","North American Values Institute (NAVI)","Parents Defending Education","American Federation of Teachers (AFT)"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Michael Greer, a retired special education teacher and former union president, claims the NEA and CTA have shifted focus from classroom instruction to political power.","The North American Values Institute reported the NEA spent at least $547 million on political activity and advocacy between fiscal years 2016 and 2025.","The AFT reported $383.2 million in political activity and lobbying over the same period, according to NAVI.","Parents Defending Education reported national teachers unions have funneled more than $660 million to left-wing political groups and causes since 2015, with total spending exceeding $1 billion including affiliates."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Michael Greer, a retired special education teacher and former union president, has accused the National Education Association (NEA) and the California Teachers Association (CTA) of abandoning classroom instruction for political influence. Greer, who has 26 years of membership in both unions and previously served as a local CTA chapter president, stated that the organizations are \"no longer focused on children.\""},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Greer, who now chairs the Del Norte County Republican Party, told Fox News Digital that union priorities have changed since his early involvement. He recalled union conferences that once focused on practical instructional workshops for teaching reading, math, and science. \"That has changed completely,\" Greer said, adding that the focus is now on teaching teachers \"how to become union members, how to go on strike, and how to gain social justice power.\""},{"type":"heading","text":"Union Spending on Political Activity"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Greer's claims are accompanied by independent analyses detailing significant spending by teachers unions on political activities. The North American Values Institute (NAVI) reported that the NEA spent at least $547 million on political activity and advocacy between fiscal years 2016 and 2025. This figure includes $458.9 million for political and lobbying expenditures and $88.2 million in direct contributions to progressive organizations. NAVI also found that the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) reported $383.2 million in political activity and lobbying during the same timeframe."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"A separate report from Parents Defending Education indicated that national teachers unions have channeled over $660 million to left-wing political groups and causes since 2015. When state and local affiliates are included, the total political spending by these unions exceeds $1 billion, according to the same report. Recipients identified by Parents Defending Education include Democratic-aligned PACs like the Senate Majority PAC and House Majority PAC, and progressive groups such as the State Engagement Fund and the For Our Future Action Fund."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Greer noted that this shift in spending priorities has altered the unions' focus from teaching to political power and social change. He also mentioned that national student achievement remains stagnant, with federal data showing about three in 10 students proficient in math and reading, despite substantial federal funding. Greer acknowledged that the CTA does fund teachers to attend both Republican and Democratic state conventions, covering up to $800 for travel and hotel costs. However, he stated that speaking out against the union's political focus has made him an outlier, as he believes the unions are \"helping themselves gain the power to alter laws and regulations\" rather than helping teachers on the ground floor of instruction."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated reports mentioned that the CTA funds teachers to attend both Republican and Democratic state conventions, a detail included in the centre-rated report and the full report from U-S-News.com. No left-rated outlet ran this story."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"U-S-NEWS.COM","url":"https://u-s-news.com/politics-del-norte-county-educator-says-teachers-union-has-traded-classroom-focus-for-political-power-the-beltway-report","headline":"POLITICS: Del Norte County Educator Says Teachers Union Has Traded Classroom Focus for Political Power – The Beltway Report","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T22:36:53.000Z"},{"sourceName":"INTELLINEWS","url":"https://intelli.news/2026/11/07/member-of-largest-teachers-union-in-us-claims-org-is-no-longer-focused-on-children-only-political-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is ‘no longer focused on children,’ only ‘political power’","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T22:16:24.223Z"},{"sourceName":"wfmd.com","url":"https://wfmd.com/2026/11/07/member-of-largest-teachers-union-in-us-claims-org-is-no-longer-focused-on-children-only-political-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is ‘no longer focused on children,’ only ‘political power’","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:10:25.648Z"},{"sourceName":"The Beltway Report","url":"https://thebeltwayreport.com/2026/11/del-norte-county-educator-says-teachers-union-has-traded-classroom-focus-for-political-power","headline":"Del Norte County Educator Says Teachers Union Has Traded Classroom Focus for Political Power","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:10:25.000Z"},{"sourceName":"nytimespost.com","url":"https://nytimespost.com/member-of-largest-teachers-union-in-us-claims-org-is-no-longer-focused-on-children-only-political-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is 'no longer focused on children,' only 'political power' - NEW YORK TIMES POST","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:07:03.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/media/member-largest-teachers-union-us-claims-organization-no-longer-focused-children-only-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is 'no longer focused on children,' only 'political power'","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:00:00.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":0,"centre":17,"right":83},"count":{"left":0,"centre":1,"right":5},"totalSources":6,"untracked":0,"rated":6,"observedAt":"2026-11-08T00:15:25.908761+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-11-08T00:45:17.815Z","closedAt":null,"checks":2,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":[],"centre":["The centre-rated report from IntelliNews led with Michael Greer's claim that major teachers unions have abandoned instructional quality for political power. It highlighted Greer's 26 years of membership in the NEA and CTA and his past roles as a local CTA chapter president and school board member. The report detailed NAVI's findings that the NEA spent at least $547 million on political activity and advocacy between fiscal years 2016 and 2025, including direct contributions to progressive organizations. It also cited Parents Defending Education's report of over $660 million funneled to left-wing groups since 2015, with total spending exceeding $1 billion including affiliates. The report included Greer's assertion that unions now teach members \"how to become union members, how to go on strike, and how to gain social justice power,\" moving away from teaching how to teach."],"right":["The right-rated reports focused on Michael Greer's accusation that the NEA and CTA have traded classroom instruction for political power, with several using headlines directly quoting this claim. The reports from U-S-News.com and The Beltway Report identified Greer as a retired Del Norte County educator and former union member, with U-S-News.com also noting his current role as chair of the Del Norte County Republican Party. All right-rated reports cited the NAVI investigation, stating the NEA spent at least $547 million on political activity and advocacy between fiscal years 2016 and 2025. They also referenced the Parents Defending Education report that national teachers unions have funneled more than $660 million to left-wing political groups and causes since 2015, with total spending exceeding $1 billion including state and local affiliates. U-S-News.com included Greer's specific examples of union conferences shifting from instructional workshops to teaching \"how to change the social system\" and mentioned stagnant national student achievement data. The right-rated reports did not mention the CTA funding teachers to attend both Republican and Democratic state conventions."],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"left","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"low":3,"mixed":3},"ownershipDistribution":{"mediaConglomerate":1,"independent":1},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/media/member-largest-teachers-union-us-claims-organization-no-longer-focused-children-only-power","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:00:00.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/media/member-largest-teachers-union-us-claims-organization-no-longer-focused-children-only-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is 'no longer focused on children,' only 'political power'","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:00:00.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"right","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"New York, New York, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"nytimespost.com","url":"https://nytimespost.com/member-of-largest-teachers-union-in-us-claims-org-is-no-longer-focused-on-children-only-political-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is 'no longer focused on children,' only 'political power' - NEW YORK TIMES POST","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:07:03.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"low","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"The Beltway Report","url":"https://thebeltwayreport.com/2026/11/del-norte-county-educator-says-teachers-union-has-traded-classroom-focus-for-political-power","headline":"Del Norte County Educator Says Teachers Union Has Traded Classroom Focus for Political Power","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:10:25.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"farRight","factualityRating":"low","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"wfmd.com","url":"https://wfmd.com/2026/11/07/member-of-largest-teachers-union-in-us-claims-org-is-no-longer-focused-on-children-only-political-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is ‘no longer focused on children,’ only ‘political power’","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T21:10:25.648Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"right","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":"INTELLINEWS"},{"name":"INTELLINEWS","url":"https://intelli.news/2026/11/07/member-of-largest-teachers-union-in-us-claims-org-is-no-longer-focused-on-children-only-political-power","headline":"Member of largest teachers union in US claims org is ‘no longer focused on children,’ only ‘political power’","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T22:16:24.223Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"U-S-NEWS.COM","url":"https://u-s-news.com/politics-del-norte-county-educator-says-teachers-union-has-traded-classroom-focus-for-political-power-the-beltway-report","headline":"POLITICS: Del Norte County Educator Says Teachers Union Has Traded Classroom Focus for Political Power – The Beltway Report","publishedAt":"2026-11-07T22:36:53.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"farRight","factualityRating":"low","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null}]},"assessment":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"Educator Claims Teachers Unions Prioritize Power Over Instruction\", https://mediabias.news/politics/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/politics/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/politics/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/politics/educator-claims-teachers-unions-prioritize-power-over-instruction.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}