Democrats' "Better Deal" includes $50 billion to boost teacher pay

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Chuck Schumer and other leading Democrats Democrats announced the second prong of their "Better Deal" economic agenda Tuesday, which aims to increase teacher salaries, improve school infrastructure, and empower teacher unions.

Why it matters: Teachers, who are striking across the country for better wages and working conditions, have threatened to vote unsupportive members out of office. Meanwhile, this policy gives teachers a clear look at where the Democratic Party stands on the issue.

The details: The "Better Deal" includes five major goals.
1. Dedicate $50 billion over 10 years to states to increase teacher compensation and retention.
2. Establish a $50 billion fund for school infrastructure and resources.
3. Increase capacity in Title I schools where children from low income families are given opportunities and access to diverse programs.
4. Protect teachers' freedom to negotiate, right to join unions, and collectively bargain.
5. Meet a federal commitment to fund special education programs.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/nancy-pelosi-chuck-schumer-better-deal-education-teachers-76064960-f414-4c94-96ff-df734f2966ff.html

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Hope it works

Christie and Walker ran against common sense programs like these, in a recession mind you, and railed against the cost. Trumpers believed them. We have to sell this with a united front.

[duforsure]

2. The Trump and Republican plan,

Giving them a gun and training them to kill their own students.

[Honeycombe8]

3. Oh, I was hoping they would drop the "better deal" meme.

It feeds into the stereotype Democratic position, which is to give away free stuff, which in turn implies that Dems vote Democratic only to get free stuff. I'm sure that's not what they mean by it. Still....I would prefer something more about the future or something along those lines.

This is a good and needed cause - teacher pay. But I wish they'd couch it in different terms other than better deal.

But a question about teacher pay: Does the fed contribute to teacher pay already? Or is this a new thing?

The Repubs don't think teachers are underpaid, as far as I can tell. Of course they are. And schools are underfunded. What the Repubs are really saying, IMO, is that they don't value the work that teachers do. And there's the fact they get summers off.

[Auggie]

5. Same here (meme). It sounds like Burger King.

[Honeycombe8]

7. LOL. I hadn't thought of that, but it's true. Here's the Burger King Better Deal.....

Millionaires don't eat at Burger King, so they know not what they say.

[Auggie]

8. The worst thing about "Better Deal" is that it's not participatory ...

It's saying, in part, that politicians are in control. They're the ones dealing. And that's not the right message. It's supposed to be a government by the people. MAGA, for all it's faults, invites this participation by suggesting (You) Make America Great Again (by supporting Trump). People believe they have the power.

I know FDR promised a "A New Deal." And that worked 85 years ago . But these are different and difficult times.

[Fred Sanders]

4. First plank, the obvious corruption of the Trump regime.

Second plank, valuing education and teachers.

More planks to come. Can it all overcome the hate of the fascists, and the deflection of the corporate media?

Yes it can.

[Victor_c3]

6. It's got my support

I know “states rights” and all that crap, but I say we basically nationalize all the public schools (i.e. wrestle them from state control) and fund them all federally and reduce/eliminate the property tax items that fund schooling. All teachers should be federal employees and paid accordingly. Typically a person entering government service with a masters degree starts off at least as a GS-9 and more likely a GS-11. In my locality, that is roughly $54,000 and $65,000 a year, respectively.

Make these jobs pay well and people will be clamoring to get them and we’ll be able to draw and retain the best and brightest to be teachers. Poorer localities will have better funding and education could truly become a leveling agent of American society.