In the midst of the economic downturn when most Americans have had to take less pay and fewer benefits to keep their jobs, teacher unions have adamantly refused to accept reductions in pay and health insurance benefits.
So Brother O and Congressional Democrats conjured up an “edujobs” bailout bill that would take $10 billion from the food stamp program and give it to placate the teachers’ unions. The bill was signed into law by Brother O purportedly to rehire laid-off teachers and prevent teachers from being laid-off before the new school year begins.
“As a result of this vote, we expect to see less crowded classrooms, reinstated bus routes and restored education programs and services”— Dennis Van Roekel, National Education Association President
However, according to the New York Times, the school districts intend to keep the money and not use it to re-hire the laid off teachers.
But now that the federal government has come through with $10 billion, some of the nation’s biggest school districts are balking at using their share of the money to hire teachers right away.—Motoko Rich
And now just five days after the signing, another New York Times story, “Back to School? Bring Your Own Toilet Paper” reports that the nation’s schools are requiring parents and students to send in toilet paper and tissues to stock janitorial closets that have been stripped bare by shrinking school budgets.
Once again, the nation’s school kids are asked to do with less so the teacher unions can do with more.—Kyle Olson
For more on the teacher union bailout bill, see Billions for Teacher Unions, Nothing for Students by Kyle Olson and Given Money, Schools Wait on Rehiring Teachers by Motoko Rich.
I.M. Kane
