SPRINGFIELD, Va. - The last 40 years have witnessed a stark increase in the control that union bosses of the National Education Association (NEA) and other unions exercise over America's public schools. The figures tell a dramatic story. Union boss control of teachers went from near zero in 1960 to 40 percent in 1970; 65 percent in 1980; and 80 percent today.

And during this same period, Americans have grown increasingly concerned about manifest failures in educational performance, while objective measures such as declining test scores confirm their fears. But after standardized test scores declined 20 percent, the NEA-dominated educational establishment rigged the tests and made them easier to conceal the damage.

Other tests, however, demonstrate the continuing failures of America's schools. In the Third International Math and Science Study, American high school students scored 19th out of 21 nations in math. Meanwhile, 38 percent of our 9-year-olds are not able to read at their grade level.

Perhaps even more worrisome to parents than declining test scores are the incidences of rampant violence and chaos such as the mass shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and other schools. Violent strikes and other militant union activities have led to a breakdown in classroom discipline and students' respect for authority.

Foundation attorneys fight back

Foundation attorneys are working actively to protect America's classroom teachers from the injustices of compulsory unionism that union bosses have imposed on them in recent decades.

In Washington and California, for example, Foundation attorneys are compelling the state arms of the NEA to allow teachers to receive up to a $250 annual rebate of their illegally seized dues.

In Michigan, after beating back an attempt by the NEA to enforce a subpoena for the names of loyal Foundation supporters, Foundation attorneys were back in federal court reviewing thousands of internal union documents and preparing for trial.

Meanwhile, in response to a Foundation-assisted appeal, the Indiana Court of Appeals declared the teacher unions' forced-dues contracts an unconstitutional violation of teachers' First Amendment rights.

Supported by the generous, voluntary contributions of thousands of Americans, the Foundation is the only nationwide organization offering free legal aid to teachers who have courageously stepped forward to oppose the abuses of compulsory unionism -- abuses that have grown in tandem with declining educational performance.