Let’s face it – teachers owe a lot to local teacher unions. Without unions, teachers would not have leverage to negotiate contracts, stabilize teacher-pupil ratios, or have the ability to use due process. Like anything else, when corrupt people take hold to something, it decays. Nothing is wrong with the notion that an employee’s rights have to be protected. The problem is – power is abused and the dominoes begin to fall. Local unions, in an effort to stabilize public schools, have retained “bad” teachers as a result. The hope was that teachers could be trained to do better. The hard cold fact is that a lot of people do not belong in the classroom not because they are not capable of learning the skill - but, because they are not gifted to teach. And, unions cannot cover this. Teacher contracts for non-union personnel are so broad that they can impose anything on a teacher under the guise of “duties.” Any refusal to perform these “duties” could be interpreted as insubordination; whereas (for union members) an administrator would have guidelines in which to follow before assigning such “duties.” For example, a contract negotiated for actual work time on the job may state that announcements can only be made at designated times. Otherwise, valuable instructional time is lost. A non-union person can only complain. The right essentially lies with the administration. Non-union employees feel obligated to fulfill their contracts by adhering to directives. There are too many administrators who abuse their power. This is a method of intimidation.
When collective bargaining first came on the scene, it was due to people being severely overworked and underpaid. I have known instances where unions have come into schools to assure the bathroom facilities work. It is assumed that any good instructional leader would guarantee that her campus is in excellent operational condition. Non-union communities rely on that assumption. If local unions can change public perception that they will not stand in the way of retaining “bad” teachers, then they may be welcomed to stick around a little longer. Otherwise, the mood of the country has determined that they are more obstacles to viable solutions to fixing our nation’s schools. Personally, I have been on both sides of the fence. I can see the advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. Anywhere I am employed, I like to know that someone has my back. The risk of being physically harmed in the classroom is growing everyday.
In the midst of the debate to fix our ailing schools, I feel confident that local unions can amicably work alongside school districts until the nation overhauls the public school structure. Once the structure is overhauled (abolish school boards and the hierarchy of school administration), then local unions will no longer be required.
Ultimately, the teaching profession is for those gifted to teach.
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