Teachers Associations, Organizations, and Unions

Abstract

The number of educational associations as reported in Part IV of the Educational Directory (36, 38) has remained relatively stable since 1940. A comparison of the number of various types of associations for the years 1943-44 (37) and 1947-48 (38) follows: (a) national and sectional educational associations, 369 in 1943-44 and 392 in 1947-48; (b) educational boards and foundations, 39 and 33; (c) religious educational organizations, 51 and 53; (d) state educational associations, 132 and 129; (e) state library associations, 48 and 51; (f) international educational associations and foundations, 32 and 31. Membership in the National Education Association increased from 203,429 in 1940 to 441,127 in 1948 (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24). Of the 928,499 teachers in the United States and territories in 1940, 22 percent, according to the National Education Association (15), were members of the Association, while 48 percent of the 912,334 teachers in 1948 were members (24). The percent of teachers who were members of the National Education Association increased gradually between 1940 and 1946 and markedly since 1946. Kuenzli (23) states that membership in the American Federation of Teachers approximately doubled between the beginning of World War II and the end of 1948. Total membership of the American Federation of Teachers for 1947 was reported (1) to be approximately 42,000. Kuenzli (23) also reported that the number of American Federation of Teachers locals chartered annually varied from