Do teacher unions create more harm than good in the American education system? Peter Brimelow and Richard D. Kahlenberg will explore this topic at a public debate moderated by Chad Kifer on the Ohio State University campus in February. This debate is co-sponsored by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs.Feb 12 2008, 5:30pm
free and open to the public
Faculty Club Grand Lounge
181 South Oval
Columbus
more info here
2 comments:
Please go and support unions! I know many an inner city school teacher who not only knows their material is highly qualified and also does a job that I know I absolutely couldn't do. Unions are not destroying schools, Charter schools are destroying schools. I get so angry about this I almost can't speak. Charter schools are union busters, they siphon off the best students, teach them virtually nothing and then when they reach the 9th grade throw them into a city highschool where the teachers there are expected to be able to control them and teach them something. You will notice that there are no high school charter schools in Y-town. If there were those students would be required to take the OGT tests and the charter schools would fail miserably. The biggest problem in schools today, is that we live in a culture of disrespect. Parents and students do not respect the educational system, and since they are the consumers they expect that schools should kow tow to them. It unfortunately ties the hands of educators to create consequences for lack of studying and misbehavior. Please support teacher's unions. For the amount of work that they are required to do, the educational levels that they must attain, the PRAXIS exams that they are required to take, and the fact that their evaluations are tied to the grades of students who often truly do not care about education, they should be viewed as the professionals that they are and rewarded accordingly.
I agree that people should be able to form unions, however unions have gotten too strong. People wonder why our jobs are being outsourced, our product quality is inferior, and our education system is failing, etc. Unions perpetuate mediocrity. I realize there are always exceptions, but what incentive does a teacher have if their union contract guarantees them a certain amount of pay and benefits and does not hold them accountable. Please do not argue about teacher reviews because we all know they are a joke. Teachers should be paid on performance. Yes a system would be tough to develop, but would far benefit kids in the long run. I do agree, especially in urban areas, that parents are a significant problem. Lack of parenting and guidance is a huge issue in our urban centers. In regards to the previous comment, you make some valid arguments, but I would not blame charter schools.
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