Educating our children is no role for union

Sacramento Bee ^ | April 3, 2002 | Mark Forbes

[<1/1,000,000th%]

How did this article end up in a Californication paper? Things getting better out there?

[Landru]

Vouchers.

-End Of Line-

[EdReform]

"We don't need our children's curriculum and textbooks negotiated as part of a union labor contract. Those decisions need to continue to reside with the community and its elected representatives. You, not a labor union, should be in charge of your child's education."

Unions 'TURN' Tables on School Boards

"... If you think your elected school board is controlling policies and curricula in your child's classroom — get ready for a jolt. An experimental labor relations idea is changing that arrangement in a growing number of school systems. The group pushing the idea is the liberal National Education Association.

It's called the Teacher Union Reform Network, or TURN. Under the program, unions do not just negotiate pay and benefit issues, but also have a say in broader issues traditionally decided only by school boards — such as setting curricula and establishing hiring policies.

Gary Beckner, who directs the Association of American Educators, finds the program "extraordinarily troubling."

"To get (teacher unions) involved in curricula or professional development is just extraordinary," Beckner said.

He said TURN represents a conflict of interest, and also hurts efforts to portray teachers correctly.

"Our biggest concern is that as unions continue to grow in this kind of scope and power . . . teachers will never get the kind of salary and the kind of respect that they deserve because they will never be seen as professionals," Beckner said. "They will always be seen as simply laborers..."

Let's Help Nail the Teachers Unions -- It is National FReep Time (replies 14, 18 and 23)

*Education News bump