Why does the Teachers Union always get blamed for problems in the school system.?

Question

Why are teachers unions always blamed for problems with the school system? The unions don't run the school districts - the politicians do!

The union's job is to protect teachers from arbitrary abuse by management. This is very important - as anybody who's ever worked in a non union job can tell you, in the absence of union protection, your boss can do whatever he/she wants, and you have minimal legal recourse.

In any case, why do teachers unions get blamed for decisions made by the politicians who run the Board of Ed, the City, the State and the Federal government?

They're the people who are responsible for the problems in the school system - because they are the ones who make the decisions about how the schools are run, not the teachers union!

[I'm a special ed paraprofessional in the NYC Board of Education - and I'm represented by the United Federation of Teachers, AFT, AFL-CIO]

The Board of Ed and the principals do the hiring, not the Teachers Union.

And, when it comes to firing incompetent teachers, that's a management issue too - the union can't make the board fire a bad teacher.

Also, principals and other administrators can, and do, protect incompetent teachers who are relatives and friends of theirs - again, a management problem, not a labor problem.

As far as vouchers and charter schools go - they are no solution.

I've worked in not for profit educational programs - they "cherrypick" their students and leave the problem kids for the Board of Ed to deal with. This makes their performance look better.

Also, hiring and firing at charter schools and not for profits is based on pure favoritism, with no union contract to protect teachers from abuse, sexual harassment or favoritism.

To the non union workers - you should unionize your job, rather than being jealous of workers like myself who are protected by a contract and a labor organization.

Answer 1

Everybody is looking for someone to blame... unions are easy targets.
The union has done a poor job recently in some areas with the teachers jobs... Teachers have lost benefits, lost privileges, not been backed up by the union. The union has wasted the teachers money on items and people unrelated to the teachers nor helping.
Unions are obligated to work to make things better including working with board of education and the government. Failure to do so is turning their backs on what they stand for.
Just the same I agree, the government continues to cut money and fails to provide aid. The board of education doesn't seen to have the best interests of the kids or the teachers in all areas... there is a general misuse of funds in a lot of places.
Sorry you feel under pressure.
The key, is where do we go from here.

Answer 2

as a 7 year teacher in chicago, i would like to weigh in on this bad boy...

DUDE..... teachers unions are as corrput and political as the BOE. now, coming from a union household, we were always taught you never vote against the union because they are there to protect you...
then you realize as you work, that they are there to protect you... but that also protect some scummy teachers who are horrid at their jobs and rotten people in general.
many people want to get on these boards and unions because of the clout it gives them and the retirement pension- not because they want to make a difference in the state of education.

that being said... everyone is to blame for a shoddy educational system... the president with his NCLB crap, the board who worries about numbers and test and not kids, the unions who keep crap floating, the teachers who are not doing their jobs, the parents for not taking an interest in their kids, and the student who is overtly apathetic.

Answer 3

Unions are good but sometimes they can be too powerful. What annoys folks the most is when the union protects bad teachers. Face it, some teachers should not be in the classroom yet the union does not differentiate. A little internal policing would go a long way in renewing the public's faith in teachers.

Answer 4

You guys have never done crap for my mom, and she pays every month to you. It's not worth it, the teacher's union makes everybody pay, even instructional assistants. I know that isn't really fair to say sorry about that.
But here's my point: People only blame you because you take their money (teacher's). So when a problem pops up, they expect you to do something about it, considering management abuse isn't exactly common place anymore in public schools. So they want their money to be doing something.

If your talking about outsiders blaming you, then I guess that isn't really fair either.

Answer 5

Because people are ignorant and politicians pander to their ignorance in order to get their votes. Politicians only say nice things to teachers unions when they want their political muscle to get votes out on their side. Otherwise they don't care.

Good Luck!!!

Union Rep. and Chairman of the Elections Committee of the Providence Teachers Union - a member of the AFT.

Answer 6

I don't know but a teacher friend of mine said a principal changed a football players grades himself when he ( the teacher ) refused to do it.

Answer 7

Because of their opposition to school vouchers, charter school, and accountability for teachers. Most of us (including myself) work non union jobs, which means we are accountable for our performance. People who love unions are generally people who do not want to be accountable for their performance.

Answer 8

I think it's unfair for them to get the blame. Teachers do a fine job coping with unruly students and the teachers are the one who deserve 6 figure bonuses, thank you very much Goldman Sachs.

Answer 9

Wow typical blame someone else. You are the biggest opposers of vouchers and are also directly in the Democrats pocketbook

Answer 10

It's called passing the buck down. Or poop runs down hill. On the bright side you should be in demand.