You Need Teachers for School Reform

Marietta English:

Critics of public education love to point fingers. But condemning teachers unions ("Pay Your Teachers Well," Review & Outlook, Aug. 3) is not only counterproductive to reform, it aims at the wrong target.

School improvement is only possible with the buy-in of teachers, whose collective voices are brought together by their unions. And many unions, notably the two you single out, have initiated a number of successful reforms.

The Baltimore Teachers Union has been deeply involved in efforts to strengthen teaching and learning in city schools, where students have posted double-digit gains the past several years. We are pleased that improvements also are taking place at the KIPP school you highlight. Contrary to your assertion, the union seeks only to have KIPP honor its agreement to pay teachers for their time worked. No other extended-day school in Baltimore has refused to do so.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 16, 2009 8:30 PM
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