Unfortunately there are still many charter school workers who recoil when they hear the word union (including folks who have taken collective direct action!)
This is super informative. I'm definitely saving this to go back to later. I'm glad you started off with the mention of how charters are intertwined with privatization and the dismantling of public education. Having not worked with any charter schools myself, is there any worry that strong charter school unions would be at odds with public school teacher unions? For example if pushing for charter expansion that often comes at the expense of public school funding. I genuinely don't know the dynamic there
I appreciate it! As to your question, I've planned out a piece on this because there is tension depending on where you are and who you're talking to. One time, at a social justice curriculum fair, I talked to some organizers from the CORE in the local teachers' union who definitely looked at me askance for working in charters in the first place (there aren't enough jobs in the public systems for early career educators). They kind of turned their noses up at the idea of organizing charter schools. Meanwhile, in Chicago and LA close to 30% of charter schools are organized, partially because of the public school teachers' unions working hard to reach out and bridge the gap. To defeat the privatization of education, I think having charter school workers organized is the best way to politically educate them about the perils of charter schools.
The more teachers who unionize, the better for all of them. And for the quality of education too.
Unfortunately there are still many charter school workers who recoil when they hear the word union (including folks who have taken collective direct action!)
What a shame.
This is super informative. I'm definitely saving this to go back to later. I'm glad you started off with the mention of how charters are intertwined with privatization and the dismantling of public education. Having not worked with any charter schools myself, is there any worry that strong charter school unions would be at odds with public school teacher unions? For example if pushing for charter expansion that often comes at the expense of public school funding. I genuinely don't know the dynamic there
I appreciate it! As to your question, I've planned out a piece on this because there is tension depending on where you are and who you're talking to. One time, at a social justice curriculum fair, I talked to some organizers from the CORE in the local teachers' union who definitely looked at me askance for working in charters in the first place (there aren't enough jobs in the public systems for early career educators). They kind of turned their noses up at the idea of organizing charter schools. Meanwhile, in Chicago and LA close to 30% of charter schools are organized, partially because of the public school teachers' unions working hard to reach out and bridge the gap. To defeat the privatization of education, I think having charter school workers organized is the best way to politically educate them about the perils of charter schools.