Teachers Unions and Educational Reform - A Comparative Perspective: The Cases of France and Israel

Abstract

This article examines the impact of teachers unions in two centralized educational systems-France and Israel—on school reforms. The analysis of related documents and interviews with teachers union leaders and with high officials in the ministries of education reveal that since the 1970s, teachers unions in both countries have been demanding more say in educational policy reforms. For their part, governments in both countries show a great openness toward the demands of teachers unions, stemming from a liberal-societal corporatism point of view. Despite similarities between teachers union strategies and tactics in both countries, however, French teachers unions are more politically oriented. Their interest in being involved in the educational reform process stems from their active involvement in French politics in general. The Israeli teachers unions are much less involved in Israeli politics, and their wish to be involved in the educational reform process stems more from professional concerns.