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Standing Up to Goliath: Battling State and National Teachers' Unions for the Heart and Soul of Our Kids and Country
As seen on Fox & Friends!
Rebecca Friedrichs tells real-life stories that expose state and national teachers’ unions as the money and muscle behind the degradation of America’s schools and culture.
In a book that’s both accessible and enlightening, Rebecca Friedrichs recounts her thirty-year odyssey as an elementary school teacher who comes face-to-face with the forces dividing and corrupting our schools and culture—state and national teachers’ unions. An exciting true story that features real life testimonies of teachers, parents, and kids, as well as political and social commentary, Rebecca’s journey leads her to the realization that the only hope for America’s schools and families is returning authority to parents and teachers while lessening the grip of state and national unions
These insights and more led Rebecca and nine other teachers to the US Supreme Court where their case, Friedrichs v California Teachers Association, et al ., sought to restore the First Amendment rights of all teachers and government employees. They argued no one should be forced to pay fees to abusive, politically driven unions, and were poised to change the very landscape of American education—until tragedy struck.
Saddened but unbowed, Rebecca started a national movement, For Kids and Country, leading the charge of servant leaders who believe Judeo-Christian values (including kindness) and restoration of the teaching profession—possible only by rejecting state and national unions and forming “local only” associations—are the answers to America’s woes. She invites you to join them.
“America’s teachers, parents, and kids deserve better,” Rebecca writes. “If we want freedom, we’re going to have to fight for it.”
Rebecca Friedrichs tells real-life stories that expose state and national teachers’ unions as the money and muscle behind the degradation of America’s schools and culture.
In a book that’s both accessible and enlightening, Rebecca Friedrichs recounts her thirty-year odyssey as an elementary school teacher who comes face-to-face with the forces dividing and corrupting our schools and culture—state and national teachers’ unions. An exciting true story that features real life testimonies of teachers, parents, and kids, as well as political and social commentary, Rebecca’s journey leads her to the realization that the only hope for America’s schools and families is returning authority to parents and teachers while lessening the grip of state and national unions
These insights and more led Rebecca and nine other teachers to the US Supreme Court where their case, Friedrichs v California Teachers Association, et al ., sought to restore the First Amendment rights of all teachers and government employees. They argued no one should be forced to pay fees to abusive, politically driven unions, and were poised to change the very landscape of American education—until tragedy struck.
Saddened but unbowed, Rebecca started a national movement, For Kids and Country, leading the charge of servant leaders who believe Judeo-Christian values (including kindness) and restoration of the teaching profession—possible only by rejecting state and national unions and forming “local only” associations—are the answers to America’s woes. She invites you to join them.
“America’s teachers, parents, and kids deserve better,” Rebecca writes. “If we want freedom, we’re going to have to fight for it.”
304 pages, Hardcover
Published November 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 12, 2023
This was an awesome book on the power of the teacher's unions as a whole. It pushes its own agenda and the education of the children is not in the top tier of concerns! It is a sad truth about our nation that power structures that are representative of a group of people for their good and benefit usually goes off the rails in order to push for things that it believes to be of great importance and to hell with those who speak up against their agenda. I was a union member for 28 years; while not in a teacher's union, I was a member of a rather large and powerful federal union...and after a number of years came to the realization that unions, as a whole, needed to be put in check and have their power reeled in
December 20, 2018
I really appreciate how far out Rebecca has stuck her neck out. Exposing the corruption of the educational cabal is dangerous to your health. But the truth needs to be told and she does a great job of documenting her personal experiences as well as some of those she has worked with inside the Progressive compounds that are public school campuses today.
September 2, 2019
I'm so grateful for Rebecca's courage to speak truth. I've never read a book full of such disturbing truth, but I'm so grateful that I read it and am prepared with the truth now.
December 21, 2020
I recently left the union after learning that I COULD. The ability to leave the union is incredibly hush hush until someone speaks about it...and very few people do. I always felt uncomfortable about my money going to fund the campaigns of politicians with whom I do not agree, but I still don't even think I realized the depths of corruption of the state and national teachers' unions until reading this book.
I think (as Rebecca also encourages) that local associations are good and should stand, but I kept thinking through my reading, "What did I reallt ever get from the state and national unions?" I am glad that Rebecca and others have been brave enough to fight for the right to decide to belong or not, to tell their stories, and to try to do what is best for kids. Every teacher should put their politics aside, read this book, and choose for themselves if union membership is right for them.
I think (as Rebecca also encourages) that local associations are good and should stand, but I kept thinking through my reading, "What did I reallt ever get from the state and national unions?" I am glad that Rebecca and others have been brave enough to fight for the right to decide to belong or not, to tell their stories, and to try to do what is best for kids. Every teacher should put their politics aside, read this book, and choose for themselves if union membership is right for them.
June 17, 2019
So thankful for teachers like Rebecca in our nation's education system. She stands up for what is right for the children rather than bowing to union forces and greed. While I thought some of the material was a bit repetitive at times, it was an eye opener for this parent who is experiencing public school for the 1st time. Will definitely make me continue to use my voice and ask questions to ensure the leaders of our school district keep kids first.
July 20, 2020
As an educator, I have been frustrated with unions my entire career, both at the local and national levels. I expected this author to at least ground her complaints in the research on effective teaching. Nope, she engaged in the very identity politics she claims to be opposed to. Her problem with the unions has little to do with they way they protect bad teachers and everything to do with her desire to be a right wing apologist. My guess is the book was originally 50 pages long (the last 50 are the only ones that talk about her court case), but her editor needed something that sells and nothing sells better than a teacher taking a crap on her own profession. Perhaps most frustrating is her entire argument is constructed of nothing but anecdotes and single stories. Of course, using anecdotes is about the only way to support her claims as any look at large scale data and trends clearly paints the opposite picture than what she needs to tell. I believe the anecdotes to be true. I also have many negative stories, but she has used these stories to paint with a very broad brush.
There are many ways teachers unions need to be more evidence and research based, but this author seems to desire them to remain ideologically based, just switching to her ideology.
There are many ways teachers unions need to be more evidence and research based, but this author seems to desire them to remain ideologically based, just switching to her ideology.
July 19, 2024
Read it and weep. If you are at the very least highly suspicious of teacher unions at the state and national level, of the administrators that hold the education of your kids and grandkids in the palm of their grubby, one-sided, very liberal hands, then this book just substantiates your greatest fears. There is the path that the author took that eventually led to the Supreme Court and all the other testimonies that bear witness to the increasing power, influence, money and political bias of the left that has taken over and infiltrated the education system of our country at all levels. It is scary, earth-shattering and painful to read about. Are all teachers, unions, administrators, school board members and politicians bad and corrupt and unable to have an intelligent discussion of the issues? No, but it appears the ones that control the purse strings and call the shots are winning and with that our future generations are losing. You read and you decide.
March 5, 2020
This book was loaned to me from an acquaintance that heard I was interested in homeschooling my children. I knew exactly what perspective this book was written from, but it ended up not being what I expected.
This book is skimmable. Read the first few paragraphs of each chapter and you get the gist. Heck, read the title of each chapter and you’re probably good. The tone was far too casual for me to take much of what Freidrichs seriously, and the self-righteousness is too thick to swallow.
This book is skimmable. Read the first few paragraphs of each chapter and you get the gist. Heck, read the title of each chapter and you’re probably good. The tone was far too casual for me to take much of what Freidrichs seriously, and the self-righteousness is too thick to swallow.
January 3, 2021
A solid start to the issue of teachers unions.
Rebecca Friedrichs gives a good summary of the start of teachers trying to escape the union controls. It would have been better to focus on her story, or focus on the issues of union power. Mixing both seemed to dilute each. Her story was quite dramatic, and she has a good grasp on the real issue of corruption in the teachers unions.
Rebecca Friedrichs gives a good summary of the start of teachers trying to escape the union controls. It would have been better to focus on her story, or focus on the issues of union power. Mixing both seemed to dilute each. Her story was quite dramatic, and she has a good grasp on the real issue of corruption in the teachers unions.
March 24, 2021
Must read
This is a must read book on unions and teachers and parents and kids. This breaks down the corruption of unions and how they abuse our families and teachers and children. The fight to get rid of big unions and get people the right to work.
This is a must read book on unions and teachers and parents and kids. This breaks down the corruption of unions and how they abuse our families and teachers and children. The fight to get rid of big unions and get people the right to work.
September 19, 2020
An insiders look at how the teachers union uses fear and intimidation to exploit its members. Also looks at the misuse of union dues.
September 16, 2022
Very helpful in understanding what’s being taught in schools. A disturbing but essential read. It helps you to see what’s behind it and not outright blame teachers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews