The National Education Association began in 1857 when 43 educators came together following a national call to unite as one voice in the cause of public education . Nearly one hundred years before the formation of the NEA, the requirements for teaching were reading, writing, and staying out of trouble. This led to a reform that transformed the education system we see today, including public schools and professional teacher training. Even after these changes, many teachers earned less than $100 a year and worked in a one-room school. While there were state-level education associations, including in 15 of the 31 states in the union, there was no national organization to serve as the voice for teachers in America. At that time a call went out to the nation's educators to unite and form, as we call it today, the National Education Association. After the Civil War, the NEA devoted itself to rebuilding the school system and educating the emancipated population. In 1867 the NEA achieved its first major victory, establishing the Department of Education to provide and regulate today's education. After outgrowing the NEA, it became a representative Assembly, composed of delegates from affiliated states and local citizens. At this time the NEA focused on strengthening its system, creating retirement pensions, and improving teacher pay. After several years, the NEA is celebrating its 100th birthday and now has over 700,000 members. Two years later, a law was passed to help usher in an era of teacher bargaining that transformed the Association. In 1926, NEA and Ata began working together as advocates for black education. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the NEA appropriated a million dollars for “pro… half of the paper… I am also a member of the NEA. Throughout my education, all the issues supported or addressed by the NEA were issues that I had to take a stand on and work with myself on. The NEA is the voice of education professionals as I will be for the foreseeable future. They believe every student deserves a great public school and education. The NEA has stood up for women teachers like me, and continues to stand up for women in the educational workforce today. Works Cited Holcomb, S. (n.d.). Answer the call. National Education Association. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/12172.htmIssues. (n.d.). Problems and actions. National Education Association. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/IssuesAndAction.htmlNEA. (2011). NEA delegates vote to support President Barack Obama's re-election bid. National Education Association. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/46078.htm