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Educational Privateers
Could Revolutionize Education
Education/Nancy Salvato |
August 12, 2005
- I feel compelled to share an epiphany I recently had
regarding employment. I really like the idea of being self employed and
working as an independent contractor. Although I've only just begun trying
to wholly support myself in this manner, I like being in control over what
services I will provide, for how long, and at what cost. It really
simplifies the relationship between the employer and the employee.
This has led me to ponder why teachers are forced to have a union bargain on
their behalf? I am absolutely convinced that the union does not have a
teacher's best interest at heart. As a matter of fact, I'm inclined to
believe that the contracts unions negotiate favor administration. Granted,
unions negotiate higher pay scales and pension benefits but they don't
negotiate a supportive work environment.
Contractual obligations are all about what the teacher will be expected to
do. They don't require administration make available any and all resources
to optimize the educational environment. They don't require a supportive
atmosphere. They ensure that there will never be a collegial professional
relationship between administrators and teachers. Instead, teachers are on
the bottom rung of a hierarchy that elevates administrators and ensures only
lateral mobility unless a teacher leaves the classroom.
If a teacher decides that a particular school isn't providing the best work
atmosphere, it is difficult to leave because the longer you teach, the
higher your pay scale. Even if a teacher is willing to work for reduced
wages, this is a sticking point. Another problem is that tenure isn't
transferable. Teachers often stay at a school where there is tenure because
it is job stability.
Teachers who aren't feeling satisfied in their work environment will find it
harder to motivate. That is just a fact. Moreover, teachers who want to
excel at their craft get no more recognition than the teacher who just wants
to get by. If teachers were able to negotiate their own contracts and could
be more mobile, I think we'd solve the problem of merit pay raises and it
would be easier to dismiss those teachers who are just waiting for their 20
years.
At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney, Why is it that there is so much
attrition with newer teachers? From everything that I've read, it is more
cost effective for a school to mentor a teacher than to not renew a
contract. Yet I keep reading that most teachers drop out of the field before
they have achieved tenure. Are the graduates of educational colleges that
unqualified to take on a classroom? What is it they are doing or not doing
that schools don't bother to retain their services? I'm wondering how many
non-tenured instructors have been given the option of resigning rather than
have to apply to a new school and say there wasn't a contract offered for
the following school year.
If teachers could negotiate their own contracts, they could strive to teach
at schools known for particular expertise or programs or innovation.
Teachers could negotiate bonuses for bringing test scores to certain levels.
Teachers who work overtime to help kids excel would see their efforts pay
off monetarily, as well.
Unions could exist but for different reasons. Teachers could voluntarily
join unions who negotiate benefits and pensions through private insurance
agencies and investment companies. Teachers could pay directly for these
benefits, or not as the case may warrant. Taxpayers wouldn't have to bear
the responsibility for meeting pension obligations. Now that would be
something.
Teacher unions spend a lot of dues extorted from teachers campaigning for or
against candidates who want to be elected to office. Money spent is to
ensure that true educational reform doesn't actually have to occur. True
reform would allow for privatization in education. Schools would actually
have to compete for students. And if the influence of unions was taken out
of education, schools would have to work –to retain the best teachers. In
the words of Herbert Hoover, "Competition is not only the basis of
protection to the consumer, but is the incentive to progress."
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