I believe that this thread was really about Union teachers and that those teachers who do not have an Education degree, but a degree in a subject (as your child's teachers do) is a much better way to go.
I live in a state (Washington) where the teachers are unionized. When I was looking at my eldest daughter starting school, I was appalled at the low scores that the children in my city were scoring. Reading at grade level was in the low 20 percentile, and math was around 19%. I had a very bright child who was already reading her books by age 4 (she was reading single words at 2). I felt it would be child abuse to put her into that school system. We did not have a lot of money; but, we took the hit so our children could get a decent education. When the educators are unionized, the entire system becomes about them, not about the children.
I'm happy that your children are able to get a good education from your area's public schools. But, I think, for the majority of people in the U.S., that is just not the case. Again, in the school district I'm in, they stopped the "Honors" program years ago after one of their "Honors" students showed up at a School Board meeting to explain that the school had simply not prepared her for college (and she was the Valedictorian of her class). She was an Indian-American and she was told that some students just aren't ready for the college experience. She was their top student, and she was told that obviously she was not ready. It was such b.s. Anyway, after that incident they ended up having to admit that their Honor Program was just like their regular program; but, the students were the bright students who didn't ever disrupt the class.
So, I am glad I did the Catholic school route, and my kids got a decent education. Our finances would not have taken such a hit if I felt that my kids would have been served well by the public schools; but, I just wasn't ready to take the chance after what I had been reading and observing about the schools in this area.
The article is about teachers with and without Education degrees not about union teachers.
I left a state (Delaware) where the teachers are unionized and moved to a state with far better schools, not even thinking about them not being unionized, just knowing the schools were better. Heck, I wouldn’t even have put our daughter in the local Catholic school in Delaware, as it was as bad as the local public school.
I’m glad you found what was best for your children. I found what was best for our child. I don’t have an issue with that.
My issue was your generalization, and broad brushing of ALL public school systems based upon your own personal experience. I would love for my daughter to be attending my HS Alma mater - but I prefer her NOT growing up in the cesspool that NYC has become.