Why are charter schools such a problem in Alabama?

Well, I know for starters that Alabama Education Association, also known as AEA, are against this because they wouldn't be able to recruit and ensure their thrall on those involved in these entities as they have with other school districts across the state of Alabama.  AEA isn't exactly an educators' union or teachers' union because they include the membership even janitors and cafeteria workers, which null and voids the actual purpose or name of the association organization.  Another thing, charter schools usually are places where there is a specific goal or 'charter' for its existence.  In the case of Birmingham, it may be the only logical solution for the time being for the beleaguered city because of the screwed up nature that AEA and its shenanigan-starters have created for the Birmingham school district.

The mayor's wife has a position in the Birmingham Board of Education main administrative building in downtown with a grandiose title but wouldn't be able to provide an adequate job description if her life depended upon it.  Then there is the AEA-supported and elected (why I don't know) school board that seems to be always at odds with any superintendent that seems to make strides towards fixing the problem, too many employees but not enough students or reason for facilities to remain open because of the shrinking enrollment of the district.   Finally, aside from Ramsey & Parker high, Powell, Epic, and Glen Iris K-8/elementary schools, the school district's schools overall performance still sucks even through there have been some improvements over the years.  The quality of education in the district is still poor even compared to other urban school districts in Alabama.  I've met one too many high school graduates of Birmingham school district that have gone on to 4-year universities telling me how they were playing catch-up via remedial course in their freshmen year of college or even graduate school.

In the end, charter schools may be the only practical and realistic solution to this institutionalized problem that exists within Birmingham and other urban school districts like Anniston where teacher tenureship and job security is more important than the quality the curriculum of the schools.  I am all for protecting the collective rights of educators as well as other work-class jobs, but in education it is imperative that the student still come first more than anything else.  This is why charter schools are very important to Birmingham and Alabama's future...

Why teachers' unions are the problem?

After watching enough TV ads into ad nauseum from Alabama's Education Association (AEA) and other teachers' unions across the nation, I've come to the conclusion when it comes to education reform in Alabama and most places that teachers' union are at fault.  Yeah, I said it!  They seem to be come preoccupied with preserving the teachers' jobs rather than educating students with the best methods.  However, instead we have this bizzaro situation where they are flooding the airwaves with the same ignorance that socially conservative interest groups uses to scare the common consumer into believing that "Washington wants to control your lives and your children's education with their liberal ideology".  Sounds familiar, huh? 

Also in other non-Southern states like Rhode Island, where there are school districts that are bold enough to terminate the entire teaching staff of a school when that isn't the answer either.  The administrators should be held as equally accountable as the teaching staff because this problem didn't form overnight and those administrators who have been there for years have seen this coming and knew what was happening.  So if you are going to fire the teachers then the administrators needs to be fired as well.  This hierarchical prejudice and ridicule of those on the lower end of the totem pole needs to cease because those higher ups are just as responsible.

Meanwhile, states like Alabama are missing out on critical funds that are needed to fund charter schools because the teachers' unions are too busy trying to cover their asses and member enrollment and dues.  The radical polarity of their isn't wise or practical at all because most solutions to any problem doesn't require switching from one end of the spectrum to another.  Also this is the time for those with a little sense and individual thought to stand up to these damn teacher's unions and their bullshit whining, bitching, and moaning about preserving their members' jobs when they are have school districts like Birmingham that are nothing but jokes, but all the administrators are getting paid $100K salaries annually....  SMDH

A little advice to Progressives, don't ally yourself with unions especially teachers' unions because as every other interest group, it's every man for himself.  Pluralistic alliances are ALWAYS the most productive ones because it allows the issue to be pushed to the forefront and made into a policy.