A thought. Why do we assume that teacher’s unions have a responsibility for the state of eduction? As one who is a believer in unions as a force for social good that seems like an odd question. Of course they have a responsibility! On the other hand do we hold the policemen’s union responsible for the state of crime in America? Or the mineworkers union for the problems caused by coal? Surely their voice on these matters has special interest given the work their members do, but do we expect them to justify their existence on the basis of the “industry’s” state of health? Isn’t that management’s job. Isn’t it precisely what the Mayoral control people promised–the buck stops here (with the Mayor). Isn’t it what the CEO’s job is all about? But I shouldn’t be surprised–after all I did hear grumbling at the time of the decline of the US auto industry that perhaps it was the United Auto Workers fault.
In short, the history of the rise of trade unions, in contrast to early craft associations, was to protect workers with relatively little power over their workplace from the unfairness of the owners–in terms of wages, working conditons, and due process. Such goals were, and remain, sufficient justification for unions and represent the universal desires, wishes and longings of all working people. We still need such mutual protection
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Deborah Meier on Education 