By Steve Gunn
EAGnews.org
    
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Democratic National Convention begins today in North Carolina, but it will be different than past gatherings in one major sense:
 
Not all of the delegates remain convinced that teachers unions are good for public schools.
 
Of course teachers unions have long been huge sources of financial support for the Democrats, and have provided thousands of volunteers who have made a difference in many elections. Because of that, party regulars have remained in lock step with the unions for decades.
 
But rigid union opposition to the obvious need for public school reform has turned off some Democrats. There is now a free and open debate within the party about the value of the unions and the need for reform, and that debate has been evident in several ways leading up to the convention, according to a story published by the Los Angeles Times.
 
For instance, the new feature film “Won’t Back Down,” about a fictional mother and teacher using a parent trigger law to try to convert a failing school into a charter school, was screened in the days leading up to the convention  with the approval of the White House and top party officials, according to the news report.
 
Teachers unions have already been voicing strong objections to the movie, along with many party regulars who still support the unions. As one pro-union blogger posted, “No self-respecting Democrat would be caught dead at this screening.”
 
In other words, no real Democrat would be caught dead having an open mind. We believe that’s the correct interpretation of that statement.
 
But some prominent Democrats are not backing down to union pressure. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, chairman of the convention, stopped by to address one audience watching the film, according to the news report.
 
“There is no longer sort of this assumed alliance between the Democratic Party and the teachers unions,” said former D.C. schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, who describes herself as a Democrat. “There are now lots of Democrats who are saying, ‘You know what, we’re for teachers and teachers unions, we support the concept of collective bargaining, but there are clearly some things that need to change, and we are willing to stand up and talk about those challenges.’”
 
It will be interesting to see if the Democrats can still present a united front on education issues, of if the split among delegates will become painfully obvious to observers. It will also be interesting to see if the division within the party proves helpful to Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who has chosen to completely support the school reform movement and oppose the unions that are blocking progress.