Pro Teacher Unions
In Support of the Teachers’ Union For over one hundred years, the teachers’ unions have been not only frowned upon, but scorned by many. Those who do not understand the true motives of the educators who participate in such organizations see their actions as selfish and even communist. The teachers’ unions have been struggling to survive since they were born. The first teachers’ union, the National Education Association (NEA), began in 1857, and consisted of over three million members (Certified Educators). This union, like most, consists of educators of all sorts including middle school teachers to college professors. The NEA’s big accomplishments began in the early 1900’s, beginning with their recognition as the “nation’s primary public teacher’s union by Congress” (Certified Educators). They then went on to merge with several other similar organizations and even worked with the NAACP to de-segregate schools (Certified Educators). Since then more than two million other teachers have joined the union. Educators join teachers’ unions for several benefits, mainly for support in their career, regulation in their work environment, and, of course, legal aid. Often in education, teachers get the short end of the stick. They are habitually taken advantage of by not only their school district leaders, but state officials as well. Enter teachers’ unions. Hardly anyone in a high position is going to listen to one lowly teacher. “Unions are set up to minimize frictions and maximize benefits for the bottom 55%. That 's how they work everywherein schools, and out. That 's how they have to work” (The Economist Online). The teachers’ unions give those ‘lowly teachers’ a voice. The main way the teachers’ unions use their voice is either by protesting or striking. “There have been over one hundred and twenty teachers’ strikes in the United States since 1918” (Oakes). As could be expected, most of these strikes were finance related. The largest teachers’ strike in US history
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