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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKansas Bill Kills Long-Held Teacher Rights
After a weekend of heated debate, the Kansas legislature passed a bill that strips teachers of the right to challenge dismissals and ensures tax breaks for corporations that fund private school scholarships. Despite huge majorities in the state House and Senate, the bills passed narrowly over the objections of hundreds of teachers and activists who packed the galleries to protest the bill. Until now, a teacher with three years of experience was guaranteed the right to receive a written reason for possible termination and the right to appeal the decision. Teachers in Kansas have had the right to due process since 1957. Without it, a teacher could be fired for being gay, or disagreeing politically with an administrator, and have no recourse.
The bill also provides $126 million to address disparities in public school funding. The Kansas supreme court ruled in March that the states current funding system is unconstitutional. The court had ordered the legislature to craft a solution before July 1. Some Republican lawmakers sought policy changes like the end of due process in exchange for supporting the funding measure. Republican Governor Sam Brownback has not said whether he will sign the bill. Kansas teachers are among the lowest paid in the United States, with the state coming in 42nd in teacher pay. Educators fear that eliminating due process rights for teachers will make it even harder to retain talented teachers. How do we get great teachers to come to Kansas when theyre already getting paid so little, and now they have no due process? Aaron Estabrook, a school board member in the city of Manhattan asked msnbc. How can we recruit them when they wont be protected?
More here: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/kansas-bill-kills-due-process-teachers?cid=sm_twitter
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MineralMan
(146,288 posts)I see no recovery from the moronic government there. Just leave.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)really become a bizarre place. Sometimes one has to just let go and move forward. I know Kansas has some good people, some working hard for change, but the infestation in Kansas is pretty extreme. Hardly anytime goes by before the next bizarre episode in Kansas.
RKP5637
(67,107 posts)Brownbackistan, especially young people starting out in life. I know people are trying to vote these fools out of office and I hope they are successful. I just can't imagine how Kansans can look at all of the crap going on in Kansas and think/say this is good stuff. I think a lot of Kansans are very naive and far too trusting.