schooldays

When I was teaching public school, the teachers were “protected” by a union, although I am not always sure they were really there for our benefit as much as they were there to push an agenda while collecting their hefty monthly fees.

Other teachers with whom I worked believed they could make more without the union, who preferred to keep everyone on an even keel salary-wise rather than allow teachers to negotiate their own wages. Not that I wanted to then, but I believe I wouldn’t be half bad at it now.

I recognize that teacher unions have their place. Our union did negotiate with the school board for us to have a certain amount of planning time, and protected our right to exercise academic freedom in our classrooms. However, they also prohibited principals from evaluating our performance, and didn’t allow dress codes to be set. This resulted in a lack of accountability for bad teaching, and staff walking around in sweats and Bugs Bunny t-shirts.

Then there is always the teacher that everyone knows should have been fired long ago, but wasn’t. They have their union protection, too.

What do you think? What thoughts, experience, or opinions on teacher unions would you like to contribute? 

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