Do Teachers Unions Actually Care about Kids?

 Heather Carson - Intellectual Takeout  

"So what then is to be done? In order for public education to be effectively transformed, the stranglehold of the unions must be demolished." . . . 

Toon added by TD

"The 1857 formation of teachers unions was intended to elevate the profession of teaching with the ultimate goal of benefiting the students. The basic idea was to professionalize teaching and standardize education for both teachers and students to ensure a good learning experience for all.

"Unions became a popular means of advocating for various groups in the mid-1800s. Teachers unions, primarily comprised of women, utilized momentum from the feminist movement to fight for higher pay, standardization of educational goals, and better conditions for students, including smaller class sizes, which teachers deemed essential for better learning.

"Despite these goals, the actions taken by teachers unions have not always benefited students. The problem lies not in the care and concern of individual teachers. I know many amazing teachers, truly gifted in their teaching methods and their ability to connect with their students. The problem lies with public education as a whole—its training of teachers and its submission to  unions which protect teachers from getting the necessary direct feedback from the children and families they supposedly serve.

"Nowhere was this more evident than during the pandemic where, in many districts, the unions actually prevented teachers and students from going back to in-person learning despite all the evidence that any serious danger of infection was past." . . .

. . ."Parents are opting out of public schools at great personal cost to themselves financially since they must pay local public school tax assessments regardless. This puts teachers unions in a very powerful position. The unions and teachers are effectively immune from the feedback that would be present in a free market situation. They get their tax money either way—even from parents who do not wish to use the public schools." . . .