This is an inspirational story to me, at a time when it seems that there are relatively few positive news stories coming out. When the news headlines are dominated by the relentless idiocy of Donald Trump, we need to remember that he does not define the world, or even the country that he was unfortunately elected to represent.
It seems that teachers, particularly in red states, are starting to get sick and tired of being blamed for the failing education systems, and for being underpaid and underappreciated. This movement seems to have really gathered steam, beginning in West Virginia, when teachers went on strike demanding better salaries and benefits. Then, it started to happen in Oklahoma. And just recently, I saw that teachers had begun to gather at the state capitol building in Kentucky.
Good for them!
We are living in a time when the NRA, the president and his supporters are calling for teachers to carry guns. The very same people most often desire cuts to education because of budgetary concerns, yet it seems that there is always plenty of money for guns, much like there always seems to be a lack of funds for programs that can actually help people in this country, yet always plenty of money for war toys and for unjustifiable wars which, if anything, make Americans more hated the world over.
The priorities speak for themselves. In one of these states, Oklahoma, it ranks near the bottom of all state in terms of education. Not surprisingly, teachers are among the lowest paid of the nation there, too. Some of them do not even receive what can rightly be considered a living wage, which obviously makes the teaching profession not a particularly desirable one there. To an extent, that trend is true with the country, as teacher salaries and benefits are constantly under attack, and teachers themselves are frequently blamed for failures within the education system. And the education system of the country ranked close to the bottom, at least among industrialized nations.
So, it's good that teachers are starting to make their voices heard, and especially in those states where they are most undervalued. We seem to be far more concerned as a nation with cutting corners to keep the budget in line, and so we cut valuable programs, such as education, or healthcare. Meanwhile, the budget for the military industrial complex, and the corporate welfare system, just keeps growing more and more bloated. At what point are we going to get tired of that, and realize that many of the problems are with that whole approach to what our national priorities are, as opposed to what they should be.
Let's hear it for our teachers! I applaud their turning out to be valued for all that they bring to our society, and demanding that they receive the level of respect that this influence and significance should naturally obtain.
The priorities speak for themselves. In one of these states, Oklahoma, it ranks near the bottom of all state in terms of education. Not surprisingly, teachers are among the lowest paid of the nation there, too. Some of them do not even receive what can rightly be considered a living wage, which obviously makes the teaching profession not a particularly desirable one there. To an extent, that trend is true with the country, as teacher salaries and benefits are constantly under attack, and teachers themselves are frequently blamed for failures within the education system. And the education system of the country ranked close to the bottom, at least among industrialized nations.
So, it's good that teachers are starting to make their voices heard, and especially in those states where they are most undervalued. We seem to be far more concerned as a nation with cutting corners to keep the budget in line, and so we cut valuable programs, such as education, or healthcare. Meanwhile, the budget for the military industrial complex, and the corporate welfare system, just keeps growing more and more bloated. At what point are we going to get tired of that, and realize that many of the problems are with that whole approach to what our national priorities are, as opposed to what they should be.
Let's hear it for our teachers! I applaud their turning out to be valued for all that they bring to our society, and demanding that they receive the level of respect that this influence and significance should naturally obtain.
Teacher Strikes Are Spreading Across America With No End in Sight They started in West Virginia, then Oklahoma and Kentucky. Now, Arizona could be next. By April 2, 2018:
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