Charter Schools and Unions: An Unlikely Marriage?

In a recent article published in the New York Times, Despite Image, Union Leader Backs School Change, a different perspective is presented about Randi Weingarten. Weingarten, the new union leader of the American Federation of Teachers was depicted as "a foaming satanic beast" in Waiting For "Superman" according for Variety. It is almost an undisputed fact that Teacher's Unions were not portrayed in the most positive of lights in the film. Of course, Teacher's Unions and Randi Weingarten are presented in synonymous terms, and the uneducated viewer may have walked away from the film with skewed perspective of the intentions and desired outcomes of Ms. Weingarten.

The Times article emphasizes the following major points: recently Weingarten has been presented as diametrically opposed to charter schools; she wrote a written rebuttal to Waiting for "Superman;" earlier this year, Weingarten proposed that teacher's evaluations be partially tied to student achievement (aka test scores). What is not as readily acknowledged is that Weingarten has a responsibility to her union members - many of whom are concerned with job security more than they are concerned with educational reform.

As an educator it is difficult to imagine acting in your own interest rather than in the interest of your students; however, the waters are so murky around this issue that it is hard to say what is best for students. Is it a stronger Union? Is it more emphasis on test scores? Less emphasis on test scores? As suggestions and ideas are continually raised, it becomes difficult to choose which will be the best for our children. Can a solution, given the individual state's power over education, work on a national level? As these questions swirl in my mind it is almost impossible to choose a side to form an unwavering allegiance to.

Perhaps the most disappointing part of the article is the realization that Weingarten, like many others, was only partially shown in the film. Steve Barr, the founder of the Green Dot charter school, pointed out one of the major weaknesses of the film: it doesn't show any positive examples of charter schools and unions working together.

This is an interesting point. The way I see it there are two major groups of people who saw the film: those who understand charter schools and those who don't. Waiting for "Superman" addresses issues of educational inequity - this is a positive thing. However, did it really do it in a way that was most accessible to the general public and most honest to the people in the film? This is debatable. And that makes me nervous.

Given the recent push in Baltimore by our own union leaders to ratify a new contract, I find this article about union leadership particularly pertinent. Unions, especially in school districts like Baltimore City, serve the purpose of representing teachers, but are called to do so in a way that will allow teachers to best serve our students. Whether it's a film, a union representative, or a new contract, Baltimore teachers must be willing to stand up for what is best for the children that we teach. Their needs should take priority over ours.