Teachers Decide To Work For Free After Budget Cuts Leave Pennsylvania School District Without Funds

[proud2BlibKansan]

The Chester Upland School District in Delaware County, Pennsylvania suffered a serious setback when Gov. Tom Corbett (R) slashed $900 million in education funds from the state budget. The cuts landed hardest on poorer districts, and Chester Upland, which predominantly serves African-American children and relies on state aid for nearly 70 percent of its funding, expects to fall short this school year by $19 million.

Faced with such a shortage of funds, the school district informed its staff that it will not be able to pay their salaries come Wednesday. So the teachers decided to work for free. As one teacher put it, students “need to be educated, so we intend to be on the job”:

At a union meeting at Chester High School on Tuesday night, the employees passed a resolution saying they would stay on “as long as we are individually able.”

Columbus Elementary School math and literacy teacher Sara Ferguson, who has taught in Chester Upland for 21 years, said after the meeting, “It’s alarming. It’s disturbing. But we are adults; we will make a way. The students don’t have any contingency plan. They need to be educated, so we intend to be on the job.”

more . . . http://thinkprogress.org/education/2012/01/06/399373/teachers-work-free-budget-cuts/?mobile=nc

[Fearless]

1. And how much money did the federal goverment give away

To promote their consolidation of power over public education? Where's that money now?

[mbperrin]

2. Is there no provision in the state constitution of Pennsylvania mandating public education?

Just seems unreasonable to have working teachers making nothing while the governor and pals rake it in while using kids as shields.

"Think of the children!"

Well, when all those teachers have finally used all their savings and their homes are gone, who will then do anything for the children.

Parents ought to be organizing drive-bys of the governor's mansion, I would think. At least in a sane world.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. It's my understanding that mandating public education

and paying for it are two separate things in most state constitutions.

[FBaggins]

3. Bravo!

Way to teach kids more important lessons than just "the 3 Rs"

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. "Boys and Girls, today we're going to discuss how to dodge your electric bill

Tomorrow, how to tell if that phone call is from a bill collector."

[Starry Messenger]

6. Dumpster diving for supper?

[FBaggins]

7. "Come to school prepared to learn".

They're making it clear that when they say that the kids come first and that education matters... it isn't just a negotiating tactic.

“We’re here to teach,” Zoranski said. “I don’t know how else to put it. The district is right now in a bind and they’re working hard to get the money. You just don’t walk away from the children.”

...snip...

District spokesman Joel Avery said administrators also will continue working if payroll isn’t met. “This is most certainly a time of shared sacrifice,” Avery said. “Without question the administration wholeheartedly makes the same pledge.”

It should also be pointed out that the story in the OP is not accurate. Nobody has agreed to "work for free". They are still owed compensation for their work... the question is when they will receive it.

[Starry Messenger]

8. It was never "just a negotiating tactic".

I don't disagree that is makes it clear, but I seriously hope this doesn't start a trend. Landlords and banks like to be paid on time and find ethical stances to be less attractive than checks. IOUS don't cut it with *my* landlord, at any rate.

That doesn't take away from the heartwarming aspect of the teachers' commitment, which was never in question from teachers, at any rate. If you needed to be convinced, I'm glad this story did it for you.

[FBaggins]

9. What thing are and what they appear to be...

... or rather, what they can be spun to appear to be... are not always the same thing.

There's no spinning this one.

[AnneD]

10. I would require at least....

Two chickens a month, 2 dozen eggs a month and a waiver on that moral terpitude clause

[SZaccheo]

11. Lets Fix Education!

Help stop the circus!

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