But we can't make bureaucracy into a scapegoat for all our problems. There are good schools within large, bureaucratic school systems, and there are bad private schools that are free of bureaucratic oversight. In some cases, bureaucratic regulations are hard-won protections helping to guarantee equity around bilingual education, affirmative action, and education for the physically challenged. It would be a step backward if such regulations were thrown out or ignored. Unions are some of the strongest opponents of private school vouchers, because they fear losing their power and membership.
Unions have the right to oppose attempts to turn services over to non-union workers.
Given the attacks on unions in recent years, both by the government and by businesses, teacher unions have legitimate fears. Undoubtedly, some union officials and teachers have lost sight of what is in the best interests of children. But many teachers honestly question whether the marketplace will magically lead to quality. They work passionately to improve schools and worry what will happen when the seats are filled up in the private schools and there are still millions of children left to attend a public school system depleted of resources. First, there is legitimate dissatisfaction with the failures of the public schools.