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Because public education has become a vector for propaganda. Because we spend more per student but with awful results. Because our brightest don't become scho

by 23B1 2y ago

Because public education has become a vector for propaganda. Because we spend more per student but with awful results. Because our brightest don't become schoolteachers. Because education is years if not decades behind the skills curve. Because big, powerful teachers unions make change impossible. Because parents have spared the rod and spoiled the child.

aappleby 2y ago
I don't think I've ever heard "big powerful unions" and "teachers" in the same sentence before.
- 23B1 2y ago
  The NEA is the largest union in the United States.
  - NoGravitas 2y ago
    But also not functionally a union. Teachers are actually represented by their state affiliate, and whether or not they can collectively bargain (the sine qua non of being a union) varies from state to state. Personally, I've lived in several states, but none in which the state Education Association was able to collectively bargain for its members.
    - PaulHoule 2y ago
      Every K-12 teacher I've known (male and female) has had times when they've come home crying from the stress. (workload, the kids you care about and can't help, ...) The NEA does something about pay and tenure but when it comes to protecting teachers emotionally forget about it. Roughly half of the people who get a teaching certificate at their own expense discover it is a job that they can't stand to do.
    - 23B1 2y ago
      State affiliates acting at the behest of a national union is a functional union, and have been effective in collectively bargaining for members since the 1970s.
      - NoGravitas 2y ago
        Not when the state affiliates are not allowed to collectively bargain.
        23B1 2y ago
        I recommend looking into the many things that NEA (and other national unions like it) do to enact their agendas regardless of their ability to bargain within a given state. For example the U.S. Department of Ed basically exists because of the NEA's lobbying efforts.

by 23B1 2y ago

aappleby 2y ago

I don't think I've ever heard "big powerful unions" and "teachers" in the same sentence before.

23B1 2y ago
The NEA is the largest union in the United States.
- NoGravitas 2y ago
  But also not functionally a union. Teachers are actually represented by their state affiliate, and whether or not they can collectively bargain (the sine qua non of being a union) varies from state to state. Personally, I've lived in several states, but none in which the state Education Association was able to collectively bargain for its members.
  - PaulHoule 2y ago
    Every K-12 teacher I've known (male and female) has had times when they've come home crying from the stress. (workload, the kids you care about and can't help, ...) The NEA does something about pay and tenure but when it comes to protecting teachers emotionally forget about it. Roughly half of the people who get a teaching certificate at their own expense discover it is a job that they can't stand to do.
  - 23B1 2y ago
    State affiliates acting at the behest of a national union is a functional union, and have been effective in collectively bargaining for members since the 1970s.
    - NoGravitas 2y ago
      Not when the state affiliates are not allowed to collectively bargain.
      - 23B1 2y ago
        I recommend looking into the many things that NEA (and other national unions like it) do to enact their agendas regardless of their ability to bargain within a given state. For example the U.S. Department of Ed basically exists because of the NEA's lobbying efforts.