Are teacher unions to blame for the sub-par education system in the United State

1. 79

   slehman1021posted 12 years ago

   Are teacher unions to blame for the sub-par education system in the United States?

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2. 73

   kschimmelposted 12 years ago

   Yes, they are part of the problem.  Parents who keep sending their kids to failing schools are another part of the problem.  Education schools also bear much of the blame, as do progressive politicians and their political appointees.
   Solution?  Parents get some sense and tell the government and unions where to go--then teach their own children or take over their local schools and staff them with good teachers.

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3. 72

   multiculturalsoulposted 12 years ago

   Keep in mind that the "system" existed before there were effective teacher unions, and teacher strikes didn't become widespread until the 1970s and 1980s. Also keep in mind that five states like Virginia, where I teach, have no collective bargaining, effectively banning teacher unions.
   
   Here are the 2007 ACT/SAT score rankings of those five "non-union" states:
   
   North Carolina (47th); Texas (45th); South Carolina (39th); Georgia (26th); Virginia (25th).
   
   This means, then, that the 24 states ahead of Virginia in SAT/ACT scores have teacher unions.
   
   Just some food for thought.

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4. 59

   eternals3ptemberposted 12 years ago

   I know good as well as bad teachers helped my their union, so I'd say its about even. One thing I can say is that classes are way easier, full of busywork and no one is expected to do anything, so by the time they are, it's too late.
   "It's the union! The union!" Or maybe we should take away the TV and give your kids a friggin book if their grades are slipping.

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5. 98

   donnah75posted 12 years ago

   In a word, no. Unions support workers so that they get a fair wage and a safe working environment. Teachers unions also want was is best for the student learning environment. Teachers work harder than most people think.

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6. 74

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years ago

   No, they are not.  Politicians are mostly to blame because, although they don't know the first thing about teaching, they keep passing laws that they don't fund but that create excessive paperwork, harm students and keep teachers from doing their jobs. 
   
   Saying unions are to blame is the political way to divert attention from the truth of the matter, but don't be fooled.
   
   Unions simply protect teacher's rights and negotiate financial issues, etc, but they have never been the reason why school administrators retain poor teachers.  School administrators just don't want to do the paperwork, etc. that is necessary to dump low performers...and by the way, low performing educators  add up to less than 10% of all teachers.

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7. 59

   GNelsonposted 12 years ago

   It is not teachers unions, it is politicans who created a system where students are taught how to pass a test and not how to think.  Teachers know how to teach but they are restricted by politicans who put test scores above creativity and inovation.

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