| Show Y S r YV J 1 r r 1 r rs q ti r l s Y n lY f 1 Ir n r. r x r Y x rr rr r r x rl l v. v r r Jh r y f r s l s rl g v w r- r Teacher Unions power without progress With the recent teachers strike in Utah coming to the fore questions are being raised about the effectiveness of their chosen unions The National Education Association NEA with its 18 million members and the members of the American Federation of Teachers AFT AFf have become two of the most powerful political constituencies in the nation nation nation na na- na- na tion but are obviously not powerful enough The NEA and AFT AFf have become more of a factor in the political arena than a factor in educational reform The two have made incremental incremental incremental in in- gains in salary and working conditions conditions conditions condi condi- for their members but otherwise have worked largely for the current educational status quo In the political arena their influence has been felt up and down the line In the 1984 presidential election campaign for example the NEA boasted more money than the entire labor movement and was prepared to spend a portion of it in the election The AFT and NEA for the most part have very Democratic political views they feel the Democrats are strong supporters of tion In 1986 on the congressional level 80 percent of AFT and NEA backed candidates were victorious The AFT and NEA do have critical ideological cal differences which keep them from combining combining combining ing forces for the purpose of educational reform The two conflict on what is called the excellence equity disagreement The AFT supported a Reagan-backed Reagan initia initia- initiative initiative tive which would put more emphasis on fostering excellence among talented students while the NEA was still concerned about the problem of educating disadvantaged learners The two unions also disagree on foreign policy which is really not of immediate concern concern concern con con- cern to most teachers The AFT has focused its concern on anti- anti communism whereas the NEA has aligned it itself itself itself it- it self with the international peace movement Whenever the NEA and AFT are close to reaching reaching reaching reach reach- ing a merging agreement a new issue arises which curbs their chances With a merger teachers might receive the conditions and compensation they deserve Without a merger it is unlikely that the unions will ever become the force needed for educational educational educational and social change within schools Michael Lewis |
