Evidence Says That Students Do Better In Schools With Strong Teachers’ Unions

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/09/01/evidence-says-that-students-do-better-in-schools-with-strong-teachers-unions/

Author: Wes Williams September 1, 2013 4:36 pm

In the current anti-union climate in the U.S., there may not be any group of unions that has been singled out for more criticism than teachers’ unions. Unions such as the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have been blamed by politicians, think tanks, and the public for everything from low student achievement to blocking proposed education reforms.

However, despite claims from some quarters that unions are a large part of the problem with American public education, there is ample evidence that teachers’ unions are a vital piece of the education puzzle, and that students benefit from their existence.

The right likes to depict teachers’ unions as “old style” labor unions: monolithic and intransigent, with union locals taking orders from national “union bosses,” ready to strike and disrupt a school district at a moment’s notice. A Harvard University study by Professor Susan Moore Johnson found that nothing could be further from the truth. Johnson says:

Many people think that national unions dictate school practice. They don’t realize how much is determined at the local level when contracts are negotiated. Contracts, each of which is locally negotiated, establish pay and working conditions — hours, class size, and evaluation — for teachers. Collective bargaining provides a legal, structured process in which local unions and management can develop reforms, such as peer review or performance-based pay.

FULL story at link.

[chervilant]

1. O, but teachers unions support

teachers! Can't have that in this era of blaming teachers for the "failure" of public education!

[liberal_at_heart]

6. and how about teachers unions are only in it for themselves, not the children.

They try to turn parents and students against teachers. These people ought to be ashamed of the character assassination they participate in.

[chervilant]

13. When I was teaching,

I considered joining a union, but couldn't afford the dues. I wonder now if they could have helped me when I had to deal with two toxic administrators. I remain skeptical.

However, it's important to note that teachers have been made the scapegoats, so to speak, of our "failing" system of public education. If unions are helping teachers, we need them to continue.

A seminal study (Calhoun, 1966) was perverted by the corporate megalomaniacs, and used to 'improve' public education. We've seen a steady degradation of the system, so that it primarily produces 'adequately trained' factory fodder and service industry drones. The best advocate for actual public education that I've found is Sir Ken Robinson, whose TED talks are essential viewing.

[vi5]

2. I really wanted more data in that article.

I was really looking forward to linking it for all the anti-union, anti-teacher, anti-public school morons I know. But while I believe the overall statement of the title/heading to be true, interviews with 30 local union leaders is not actually data that supports the main hypothesis. Unless I missed something in there.

[NJCher]

5. go direct to the studies cited in the article

I don't think it's the author's intent to do a scholarly article. This is more a persuasive piece with scholarly backing. Citing more from the studies in depth would detract from the author's argument.

There are links to the studies or information about the studies. Why not follow those links or look up the studies if you'd like that data? I think it would be valuable to have in my "union file," so that's what I think I'll do.

Thanks to the OP for bringing this to our attention. As a leader in a teacher's union, I can make use of this argument and the studies backing it.


Cher

[vi5]

12. I went pretty deep in

and I couldn't find any kind of hard numbers (ie. Schools with strong unions scores were 10% higher than schools without, etc.).

It was all related to the president's and their perceptions of what they need to do, etc. It seemed much more interview and anecdotal than what I would call "evidence".

[Overseas]

3. K&R. Glad to hear it.

[ewagner]

4. If...

the teacher's unions do a better job of quality control...

the unions act more as a guild representing HIGHLY skilled labor/artisans

then they will prosper

[liberal_at_heart]

7. I don't disagree that there needs to be a better way to get rid of truly bad teachers.

My kids have had some outstanding teachers, but they have had their fair share of bad teachers as well. But to use the few bad apples against the whole bunch is like saying that we need more documentation for people to vote because there is some great big, huge voting fraud in our voting system which of course is not true.

[ewagner]

9. Sorry if I didn't make it clear...

I'm saying that Unions need to make control the labor supply so that school systems that go outside of Unions for their teachers will not or cannot be guaranteed the same quality.

Make the difference between Union and non-union teachers the same difference as between say....name brand and generic.....or first run and "seconds"....

It's a different way of looking at it...but this is pretty much what the AMA (American Medical Association) does with accrediting Doctors...

[AllyCat]

8. Anecdotally, the schools in Wisconsin seem worse than

Ever after Act 10. Next year starts a new era of standardized tests and the potential to restrict parents' right to opt their kids out of the tests. Their day is longer, and the work coming home so far is really meaningless.

[Starry Messenger]

10. K&R

[mountain grammy]

11. The studies prove what common sense tells us..

workers treated with dignity and respect who have a voice in their workplace are more productive and perform better.

Corporations and, now, governments have the mentality that workers are disposable and easily replaced. People working with a contract have some sense of job security

[PETRUS]

14. K&R