Union Places It's Needs Over That Of The Kids
[February 26th] -- Every once in a while, a story makes headlines that reflects my concern about teachers unions. We all know that unions, paticularly in certain market segments, are a positive force. But teachers?
A high school principal in the Kenmare, North Dakota school district was having a difficult time filling a speech pathologist position in their high school. The salary agreed to by the district and the union just wasn't enough. A state fact-finding commission recommended that the position receive an additional $15,000 per year so that the school district could compete with the private sector. The principal liked the idea and hired a pathologist for the union pay plus the $15,000.
The Kenmare Education Association quickly filed suit to stop the hire. Said President Donna Schmit, "For one individual to negotiate an additional $15,000 in salary is wrong." Luckily, a district court judge saw differently and ruled in favor of the district's attempt to help their special needs students.
The union seems to be more concerned with keeping it's collective bargaining power intact than it does seeing to the needs of it's students. Without that speech pathologist, children who need help wouldn't get it. It is stunning that the union would rather let a child continue to have difficulty with their speech, and possibly be held back than lose any appearance of being the all-powerful, monolithic voice of all teachers.
It's no wonder that teacher's unions are losing members in record numbers as professional organizations are growing exponentially at the same time.
It's about the kids, everyone.
