The NEA held their annual conference in Washington this week. They discussed 74 new business items, offered a fundraising showing of Fahrenheit 9/11 (at 20 bucks a pop!), voted to endorse John Kerry for president with a resounding 86.5% of the delegates (we're assuming the other 13.5 went to Reg Weaver), and were entertained by some old fashioned (and low budget) protest music (more on that below).

To help keep the public record, the Education Intelligence Agency (also known as Mike Antonucci), banned from the convention floor, set up a booth in the convention's press section and delivered up-to-date correspondence on all the goings-on in blog format. His not-to-be-missed highlights include a description of some of the more pressing issues raised, including whether or not to oppose a memorial to Strom Thurmond, to oppose reinstating the draft, to restore Friendship Night, to support international pressure to demand the Sudanese government "stop its efforts to displace and starve native populations" in Darfur, and to consider a proposal to hold a National Bake Sale for Public Education Day.

The real news was that Kerry snubbed 'em at the last minute. Said Reg Weaver, "Are we disappointed? Yep. Are we angry? Yep." No word on whether Kerry's decision had anything to do with his disappointment on the Bake Sale decision.

Meanwhile, the extra volume on stage was a little more melodic than usual when NEA Secretary-Treasurer Lily Eskelsen treated the assemblage to a series of original folk-songs loaded with anti-NCLB lines like, "If we have to test their butts off, there'll be no child's behind left." Her album is now on sale.