false. in the united states, as a result of the teachers' unions, it is very difficult to fire a teacher.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/03/05/why-we-must-fire-bad-teac...
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/03/05/why-we-must-fire-bad-teac...
Likewise, some places have very high academic standards, and in other places creationism is considered a valid element in science currricula. Academic quality is not strongly correlated to unions' bargaining ability, as far as I can tell.