CertifiedEducators.com

Teachers unions have a more powerful political voice than ever. The biggest two teachers unions in the United States today are the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association. Both are designed similar to the typical U.S. union; in a teachers union, a group of educators work collectively to protect teachers’ rights to good working conditions and fair benefits.

In recent years, many feel that our public school systems fail to meet American educational standards. Several countries have surpassed America in standardized tests. Children are not getting the same education they were 20 years ago. A plethora of Americans believe that getting rid of teachers unions is the best solution to correct this failing system. Why, you ask?

Teachers unions have outdated contracts that, originally, protected teachers against unfair policies that are no longer practiced.

Teachers Unions prevent much needed changes to our educational system, including the firing of incompetent teachers and the implementation of merit pay.

However, the majority (only slight majority) of Americans believe the opposite. Those in favor of unions say that those opposed are only looking for a scapegoat, or slowly trying to eliminate union by union until unions completely vanish. They too offer several compelling arguments.

Teachers unions protect educators against inexperienced principals and harsh or tedious requirements set by the school board or federal mandates i.e., exact duration of a lesson or the design of a bulletin board.

Teachers unions check the power of administrators who, increasingly, are non-educators and may not have the same experience as the teachers they oversee.

Teachers unions are a medium through which educators can speak out as a collective group in their interests.

What do you think about teachers unions? Do you think an America with teachers unions is the solution to our failing educational system? Submit your comments below!

Arguments in quotes are provided by TeachersCount.org

Historically, teachers have been paid less than many other professionals, although qualified educators in high demand areas, such as foreign language and science, have realized gains in their compensation. In particular, teachers who have advanced degrees, certification and professional experience can now earn competitive salaries at the secondary, collegiate and private tutoring levels.

Today, the average public school teachers earns just over $50,000 per year, with higher salaries heavily weighted to those with years of experience and advanced degrees. By contrast, newer teachers and those who work in private schools tend to earn less and also have more limited benefits. Public school teachers have a wide array of benefits, stemming from the advocacy on the part of the NEA to maintain pension, health care and pay increase benefits for their members. Since collective bargaining at the state level determines salaries, most public school teachers have historically been able to maintain income growth.

The greatest income potential for teachers remains for individuals with advanced degrees and proven professional success in hard-to-fill positions such as Spanish, physical and life sciences, as well as computer and vocational skills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job opportunities for school teachers to grow 12% over the next decade, with faster growth in expanding areas, as determined on a state and school district level. Mandatory state-level preschool and foreign language education should further improve job and salary prospects in those areas.