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March 10, 2008
Throw Me the Money
In today's New York Times, interesting articles on teachers unions' disproportional influence in politics and straight-jacketing effect on teachers in the classroom. And of course, that's just the way they want it. To wit: the Seattle Education Association, in its campaign against "vile elements" of NCLB, has recently ratified a motion to stonewall the superintendent's efforts to improve the district's educational system. The union objects to recommendations including "replacing the poorest performing schools with charter schools, creating a principal corps that gives principals power over curriculum, [and] firing 'under-performing' teachers" - all of which apparently run counter to the SEA's own member "teachers' increasing willingness to struggle for quality public education." The SEA members' counter attack for delivering said quality public education centers around contract negotiations aimed at "protecting teachers jobs and fighting for better funding of public schools."
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Comments
I've seen the criticisms on your site and others of teacher unions as an impediment education reform, especially in the area of removing ineffective teachers. However, I work in a state where collective bargaining for teachers is illegal, membership in either of the teacher unions is purely voluntary (it's even illegal to have membership dues deducted from one's paycheck). In fact, it is relatively simple here to remove a teacher from the classroom. I serve on the state body responsible for the granting and removing of licenses, yet almost no district, administrator, or taxpayer takes the step to remove such teachers (except for those convicted of crimes). If, in fact, there are so many incompetent teachers out there, teacher union interference is not the only, or even the main reason they aren't being eliminated from our schools. I think the recent reports on sloppy teacher evaluation hold a large part of the answer.
Posted by: Renee Moore | March 16, 2008 01:05 AM
