Academic Association

In a response to my post entitled Parental Presence a colleague of mine, CircumVentures, brought up the issue of teachers unions and how difficult it is for even unqualified or unsuccessful educators in the public school system to lose their job. As an individual who attended a private school, I was never exposed to teachers unions and, therefore, did not have a familiarity with what comes with membership in such organizations. After my colleague's comments on Parental Presence, and as a resident of California, I made the decision to educate myself on the California Teachers Association.
As has been pointed out to me, it is almost impossible for teachers who are members of unions, such as the CTA, to lose their jobs. A part of one's membership in CTA is that, if needed, teachers are provided with legal services, whether free services are provided or they are provided at a discounted fee. In addition to providing its members with legal counsel when necessary, the CTA works to improve working conditions within schools. Not only does the organization work to improve the working conditions of its members, but it also fights for higher salaries, more health benefits and more affordable retirement policies.
The California Teachers Association provides its more than 340,000 members with a great many benefits that they may not receive if they did not hold membership to such an organization. The CTA fights tirelessly to protect and advance both the professional and economic interests of its members. While I am able to recognize these benefits and the possibilities that there are others to being a member of the CTA, I am still not sure where I stand on teachers unions. As I stated, I understand and am thankful for all of the benefits provided by organizations such as the CTA, but I still do not know how I feel about the fact that even educators who have not been successful in the classroom not only retain their positions, but receive additional aid.