<p>This essay compares the public debate in Sweden 1992 caused by the reforms introduced by the then government giving parents a free choice of schools for their children with the current debate in France about proposals for a similar law there. The study concentrates on the positions taken by the teachers trade unions, in Sweden Lärarförbundet and Lärarnas Riksförbund (LR) and in France SGEN-CFDT. To do so it is necessary also to study the arguments given for and against the proposals by the political parties.</p><p>Some of the differences between the debates can be attributed to different circumstances. The Swedish reform was related to the opening up of possibilities to run private schools, which previously had been rare in Sweden. The French debate has no such connections. The private schools, mostly Catholic, have a very stable share of the students and no side is openly arguing for a change of any sort. Other differences depend on the French adversity to liberalism, almost always conflated with neo-liberalism which makes market-oriented arguments much less common in French public debate.</p><p>Among the trade unions the big difference is between the two Swedish organisations, LR was overall positive to the proposals while Lärarförbundet opposed them. In France SGEN-CFDT takes a position strikingly similar to Lärarförbundets in Sweden 1992 seeing free choice as undermining the idea of a school system for all. In Sweden that idea is seen as a part of the welfare state, closely connected to the Social Democratic party. In France it is seen as a republican idea, connected to an idea of citizenship.</p><p>The trade unions of the teachers in both France and Sweden are also in similar positions as their role has become merely reactive. There seems to be little room left for them to formulate policy and push the educational systems in their prefered directions.</p>

Text in Afrikaans / Organised trade unionism in the South African education sector is a new phenomenon. In this study the emergence and development of Coloured professional teacher associations and teacher trade unions is researched. Although Coloured teacher associations like the Teachers' League were great exponents of professionalism, they nevertheless showed characteristics of modern trade unionism. The development of Coloured professional teacher associations and trade unions is discussed against the background of their quest for teacher unity in South Africa. Since the establishment of the Teachers' League in 1913, the policy of Coloured teacher organizations on teacher unity underwent a remarkable change from mainly ethnic teacher unity (1913-1969) to unity across ethnic divisions (since the late seventies). This policy shift is contextualised in the ever changing political, social and economic milieu in South Africa. Finally recommendations on the professional teacher association enterprise and teacher trade unionism in South Africa is given. / Die georganiseerde vakbondwese in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys is 'n nuwe verskynsel. In die studie is die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van die Bruin onderwysverenigingsbedryf en onderwysvakbondwese in Suid­ Afrika nagevors. Alhoewel die vroeere Bruin professionele onderwysverenigings soos die Teachers' League 'n sterk professionle karakter getoon het, het hulle kerumerke van die moderne vakbondwese, veral ten aansien van hul salarisonderhandelinge met onderwysowerhede, geopenbaar wat deurgaans in die verhandeling belig is. Die metabletiese ondersoek na Bruin professionele onderwysverenigings en -vakbonde is onderneem teen die agtergrond van hul etniese en nie-etniese eenheidstrewe in die onderwys. Die eenheidstrewe van Bruin onderwysersverenigings het 'n merkwaardige verruiming sedert die onstaan van die TLSA in 1913 ondergaan - 'n aspek wat in die lig van die deurlopende veranderende sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese klimaat in Suid-Afrika belig is. Ten slotte word aanbevelings ten opsigte van die onderwysverenigingsbedryf en die onderwysvakbondwese in die nuwe Suid-Afrika gemaak. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Historiese Opvoedkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Organised trade unionism in the South African education sector is a new phenomenon. In this study the emergence and development of Coloured professional teacher associations and teacher trade unions is researched. Although Coloured teacher associations like the Teachers' League were great exponents of professionalism, they nevertheless showed characteristics of modern trade unionism. The development of Coloured professional teacher associations and trade unions is discussed against the background of their quest for teacher unity in South Africa. Since the establishment of the Teachers' League in 1913, the policy of Coloured teacher organizations on teacher unity underwent a remarkable change from mainly ethnic teacher unity (1913-1969) to unity across ethnic divisions (since the late seventies). This policy shift is contextualised in the ever changing political, social and economic milieu in South Africa. Finally recommendations on the professional teacher association enterprise and teacher trade unionism in South Africa is given. / Die georganiseerde vakbondwese in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys is 'n nuwe verskynsel. In die studie is die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van die Bruin onderwysverenigingsbedryf en onderwysvakbondwese in Suid­ Afrika nagevors. Alhoewel die vroeere Bruin professionele onderwysverenigings soos die Teachers' League 'n sterk professionle karakter getoon het, het hulle kerumerke van die moderne vakbondwese, veral ten aansien van hul salarisonderhandelinge met onderwysowerhede, geopenbaar wat deurgaans in die verhandeling belig is. Die metabletiese ondersoek na Bruin professionele onderwysverenigings en -vakbonde is onderneem teen die agtergrond van hul etniese en nie-etniese eenheidstrewe in die onderwys. Die eenheidstrewe van Bruin onderwysersverenigings het 'n merkwaardige verruiming sedert die onstaan van die TLSA in 1913 ondergaan - 'n aspek wat in die lig van die deurlopende veranderende sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese klimaat in Suid-Afrika belig is. Ten slotte word aanbevelings ten opsigte van die onderwysverenigingsbedryf en die onderwysvakbondwese in die nuwe Suid-Afrika gemaak. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Historiese Opvoedkunde)

This essay compares the public debate in Sweden 1992 caused by the reforms introduced by the then government giving parents a free choice of schools for their children with the current debate in France about proposals for a similar law there. The study concentrates on the positions taken by the teachers trade unions, in Sweden Lärarförbundet and Lärarnas Riksförbund (LR) and in France SGEN-CFDT. To do so it is necessary also to study the arguments given for and against the proposals by the political parties. Some of the differences between the debates can be attributed to different circumstances. The Swedish reform was related to the opening up of possibilities to run private schools, which previously had been rare in Sweden. The French debate has no such connections. The private schools, mostly Catholic, have a very stable share of the students and no side is openly arguing for a change of any sort. Other differences depend on the French adversity to liberalism, almost always conflated with neo-liberalism which makes market-oriented arguments much less common in French public debate. Among the trade unions the big difference is between the two Swedish organisations, LR was overall positive to the proposals while Lärarförbundet opposed them. In France SGEN-CFDT takes a position strikingly similar to Lärarförbundets in Sweden 1992 seeing free choice as undermining the idea of a school system for all. In Sweden that idea is seen as a part of the welfare state, closely connected to the Social Democratic party. In France it is seen as a republican idea, connected to an idea of citizenship. The trade unions of the teachers in both France and Sweden are also in similar positions as their role has become merely reactive. There seems to be little room left for them to formulate policy and push the educational systems in their prefered directions.