How would public school education benefit if the teacher's unions did NOT exist to protect the bad teachers?

Answer 1

It is a common belief that "bad" teachers cannot be removed from their teaching positions because of the unions. This is incorrect. Teachers are evaluated every other year (at least in CA), and if they do not improve their performance, the district can remove them. It may be a slow process, but it can and is done.

The other question you should ask is how would the public school education system benefit if the teacher's union did not protect good teachers. Some of the district officials have been known to have too close an eye on the bottom line. They would worry more about the dollars, and less about the students. They would increase class size, and teacher to student ratios. They'd get rid of the expensive experienced teachers and replace them with cheaper and less experienced ones.

Sure, unions have drawbacks, but I think that it is a misconception that they cause more harm than good.

Answer 2

Prior to the rise of teachers' unions, school administrators could operate according to personal, rather than professional, standards. Teachers had no rights to speak of, and virtually no protection. If a teacher pleased the principal, he/she was looked upon favorably. There were no professional standards.

Unions do NOT exist to protect bad teachers. There is no question that a strong union in a particular school system can make the discharge of an incompetent teacher so cumbersome that an administrator will conclude that it is not worth the time and trouble to try. It is an unfortunate circumstance, but in my view the result, while not beneficial, is preferable to that which occurred the good teachers felt stifled by a pricipal who had no check on his or her power. What a conscientious adminstrator will do, in the scenario you describe, is help the "bad" teacher to improve his or her approach and attitude toward the job. The procedures that teachers' unions have helped to implement make it a responsibility of the department heads and principals to do just that.

Answer 3

first, they don't protect bad teachers. principals can fire teachers...and for any reason they feel like during the first year.

and as for the benefits, i doubt it because no intelligent person would work for public education without protections.

there seems to be a group of parents out there....rather large....that think it's our responsibility to do their job...and if we aren't able to, with zero support from them, they like to play the blame game. hmmmm

Answer 4

sigh.... teacher's unions do not exist to protect bad teachers. Principals can and do get rid of bad teachers.