I know a woman who started working as an assistant teacher 4 years ago. Her metamorphosis has been scary:
Year 1: "I'm not joining the union! They're a bunch of leftist creeps!"
Year 2: "I had to join the union. If something went wrong on the playgropund, I could be sued. At least the union would protect me."
Year 3: "I'm not wild about the union, but they look out for me."
Year 4: "The contract says I work until 3 PM. You better believe I'm out the door at 3 PM. I know my rights!"
Unfortunately, she’s right in some of those statements. #2 and #4. She left how she’d be hounded and ostracized if she didn’t join. Talk about thug mentality. It exists.
This is one of the reasons why teachers will never be considered ‘professionals” imo. The Union has done way more harm than good to the profression.