Teachers union flexed muscle in Legislature

May 2009 Letter of the month

The Olympian • Published May 31, 2009

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The Thomas Friedman headline in a recent Olympian said “Let’s hope new generation of teachers can get us on track.” He reported test results of high school students in science and mathematics rank America near the bottom when compared to other nations in the world.

So what did our Legislature and new state superintendent of schools do to reduce the high number of failures?

No, they did not insist on improved instruction so more would pass the test. Instead, they did what the teachers’ union wanted — they abolished the test. There were previous efforts to abolish the tests, but Gov. Chris Gregoire and the previous state superintendent saw the need for testing, and insisted they be kept.

The 2008 election changed that: Our state teachers union (Washington Education Association) was a major force in electing a new state superintendent of schools who opposed testing, and helped elect more legislators committed to their abolishment.

Friedman’s expecting teachers to solve the problem may be looking in the wrong place. Individually, many are exceptionally good, but on policy issues, the union is their voice.

Only when parents and community leaders insist on tests that truly measure achievement in the necessary skills will our children be as well prepared as previous generations.

And if they are not, as Friedman points out, our nation will be a weakened competitor in the world economy.

Nels Hanson, Lacey