Are teachers unions too powerful in public schools?

At the risk of drawing the ire of teachers unions we need to ask if their influence is such that they drive too many choices. Let’s start out making clear that great teachers are worth their weight in gold. Outstanding teachers should not only be paid like superstars they should be treated with respect and revered. Weak or mediocre or poor teachers should be assisted to move on to other endeavors. There in lies the issue…the poor and weak are protected. Every teacher is treated as equal and considered as having the same proficiency and effectiveness if they have X degree(s) and Y years of experience. That’s simply impossible. Some people (in every profession and job) are better, faster, more effective and worth more for what they are paid than others. Unions, in our experience, force everyone into the communal pot. Where’s the incentive to perform better and be rewarded (other than pride and self drive – which does happen but tends to get burned out over time as everyone is forced into the same mold)?

We came across a couple of articles that address this topic that we want to share. We’ll provide links to the original articles so you can read them yourself but we’ll also highlight some key points in each article in case you can’t or don’t have time to read them in their entireties.

How America’s largest union is destroying our country, beginning with schools – Lifesite News published this article on July 16, 2019. Following are some highlights and takeaways:

• Among the actions taken at the NEA 2019 Representative Assembly are these new business items:
  • Explicit defense of the “fundamental right to abortion under Roe v. Wade” as well as for “youth” to “control their own body” (NBI 56). So either killing or sexualizing children is now official NEA policy.
  • NEA opposes the “criminalization of border crossings,” no wall, and the immediate shutdown of detention centers, which NEA agrees are “concentration camps.” (NBI 37)
  • The union calls for “ … the immediate end to the detention and criminalization of immigrant children and their families, including an end to ICE raids” and accuses the Trump administration of human rights abuses at the border.
  • Racial politics on parade. “Using existing resources, NEA will incorporate the concept of ‘White Fragility’ into NEA trainings/staff development, literature, and other existing communications on social, gender, LGBTQIA, and racial justice … ” What?
  • Passing the “Equality Act” is a top priority and union will work with the radical Human Rights Campaign on this.
  • Will support Black Lives Matter’s “Week of Action” in schools during Black History Month. BLM promotes unjustified, inaccurate opposition to police and law enforcement.
  • Plans to collaborate and partner with those pushing for reparations for African-Americans.
  • Will conduct “professional development” training for homosexual club advisers in conjunction with “current partner GLSEN” and others, including how to “handle possible backlash from different stakeholders.” Like parents who don’t want their child to join a school club promoting sexual immorality?
  • NEA will develop model state legislation to mandate an “LGBTQ”-inclusive K through 12 curriculum — i.e., forcing schools to subject students to homosexuality and gender rebellion throughout the school day in many classes. (Disregarding the many families who don’t agree.)
  • In a stand against “linguistic oppression,” NEA will “call on educators to refrain from discouraging or explicitly telling students to not speak a language other than English at school.”
  • At future national conventions, NEA will create space on nametags for designating pronouns and ensure there are more gender neutral restrooms.
  • NEA wants a 100 percent student loan forgiveness plan and wants congressional hearings on this.
  • Will create a “Stonewall LGBTQ” grad school scholarship for a student who identifies with any of these immoral behaviors and studies this propaganda.

In Washington State the NEA (National Education Association = The National Teachers Union) there is a new website focused on upcoming elections. The website is: https://educationvotes.nea.org/presidential-2020/2020-election-faq/   What do they focus on?

Here’s How the Public Views Teachers, Their Salaries, and Their Impact –   This chart shows the results of a survey of the publics impression of teachers:

How Teachers Union Work Rules Harm Public Education

ARE TEACHERS’ UNIONS THE PROBLEM OR THE SOLUTION?

How Do Teachers’ Unions Affect Public School Outcomes?

So what if anything can you, the parents and grandparents and taxpayers and interested parties do? Can you have any impact or does your fire get rained on and put out?

The Answer: Express your opinion with your vote. Stay in touch with your local school board. Start with a “NO” mentality and make then convince you to switch to Yes. Talk to your elected representatives and share your thoughts. Yes you are single individuals or couples and are up against Unions who have money and they give lots of that money to elected representatives in an attempt to influence votes. You can either give up or you can speak up. Speaking up and you have a chance. Stay silent and you get buried and taxed to death.