Profile: MACE -- The Teacher's Advocate

For more information about MACE, please view its website as well as its videos on YouTube.

Besides SOS Million Teacher March, if there was another education organization that I am excited about, it is the Metro Association of Classroom Educators (MACE) in Georgia. Since Georgia is a "right-to-work" state, teachers here do not have unions, but rather they have teacher associations with very limited power. In Georgia, there are three major teacher associations:

1. Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), the largest teachers' association in Georgia and the state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers' union in America
2. Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), the second largest teachers' association in Georgia
3. MACE, "the radical teacher union" since 1995

NOTE: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the second largest teachers' union in America, does not have a state affiliate in Georgia. Instead, at least in the metro Atlanta area, it has two local affiliates.

Dr. John Trotter, Chairman of MACE

Of the three teachers' associations, MACE has a hard-knocks reputation for serving and representing their members. Unlike GAE and PAGE, MACE represents classroom teachers ONLY to avoid any conflict of interest; GAE and PAGE allowed administrators in their membership ranks. MACE is headed by Dr. John Trotter, a former teacher and school principal, who is also  a lawyer; he is tough, knowledgeable, and loyal to MACE's causes and members. While small in numbers, several school districts and school administrators have become fearful of MACE. Of the three teachers' associations in Georgia, MACE behaves more like a "union".

In addition, I love the philosophical positions of MACE when it comes to education reform. It is not always about the teachers, but about properly educating children and holding the entire village accountable. Its motto is simply this: You cannot have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions. Plus, according to MACE's The Lion's Roar, the real problems in public schools are as follows:

• Defiant and disruptive students
• Irate and irresponsible parents
• Angry and abusive administrators
• Widespread, systematic cheating
• Naive and spineless educational policymakers in the state

Granted, there are some bad teachers whose actions are indefensible. However, most teachers I know work hard and strive to give their best to their students. However, many of them have to deal with these obstacles that MACE mentioned that reduced their desires to do their jobs right. To me, MACE's position is about holding the whole village accountable, not just the teachers.

Perhaps the only thing I don't like about MACE is its unwillingness to expand in other states; as Dr. Trotter explains, "MACE is committed to Georgia...You don't stretch your supply line...You keep your troops in tact; so, you know, you can be there to defend the teachers". I beg to differ, but OK. Nevertheless, kudos to MACE for truly being "The Teacher's Advocate".

Finally, on a personal note, when I taught in Georgia, I was a member of GAE. I didn't heard about MACE until after I joined GAE. Despite my affiliation and the alleged reputation of teachers being "black-balled" due to their MACE membership, I have always been a huge fan of MACE. However, I remained a member of GAE due to its networking connections locally, statewide, and nationally. Unfortunately, last school year when I was Associate Representative at my school site, I was exposed to too many things that I was displeased with the central office and GAE. Politics ruled more so than the needs of the members. Consequently, the teachers (and other employees) got screwed and nothing was done by GAE to rectify the mess. That was my personal nail to the coffin to leave the district and possibly the profession. My blind allegiance to GAE is one of the reasons why I left the profession, at least in Georgia. I don't care what the risk are; if I ever teach in Georgia again, I will become a member of MACE and give them a try.  In additional to the members' testimonials on MACE's website, one of its members has a blog; in one of his blog entries, he praises and advocates for MACE.