When the argument is trotted out that "reformers", having "never spent time in the classroom" (not true across the board, by the way) shouldn't speak up, I would point to the fact that the performance of LAUSD schools is at the bottom of the list for California, and that California is at the bottom of the list for the whole country, and that perhaps some fresh perspectives from outsiders might well bring new ideas to shake things up. Many of those outsiders have started some very successful charter schools "insiders" could learn from.

Teachers unions work for the benefit of their teachers, just as all unions do; and that is not necessarily the same as working for the interests of the kids. The problem is that they have so many resources that they have been able to run the show with politicians, particularly in California; and when there is no counter weight (kids don't vote and don't have a lobby) you get everything you want, such as a ridiculously short amount of time before getting tenure, among other things.