In the quest to remake America's public schools, Intelligence Squared U.S. asks a distinguished panel to debate if teachers unions should shoulder most of the blame? The teachers unions have frequently been blasted as an obstacle to improvement. But do unions really deserve more of the blame than shrinking budgets and the poverty and other problems students face at home?

Union critics say the unions shield poor teachers and make it difficult for districts to implement changes to improve the quality of teaching in the classroom. Some even argue that the current union structure is the main factor undermining U.S. schools today. Defenders of the unions say the problems go much deeper, the current education system incentivizes instructors to only "teach to the test" thus depriving American students from earning a true education. A group of experts recently took on that question in an Oxford-style debate. Three argued for the motion "Don't Blame Teachers Unions For Our Failing Schools," and three argued against.

Visit the Intelligence Squared U.S. Web site.