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posted by martyb on Friday March 30 2018, @12:27PM   Printer-friendly
from the increasing-cost-of-living dept.

Common Dreams reports

Teachers in Oklahoma applauded the state Senate's passage of a $447 million bill to fund educators' first raise in a decade by raising taxes on oil and gas production as well as cigarettes and fuel--but warned that the plan is not enough to keep them from striking.

The proposal was approved in a 36-10 vote on Wednesday night [March 28] after weeks of speculation that teachers would stage a walkout beginning April 2 to demand salary increases as well as more funding for their overcrowded schools--where teachers are frequently forced to pay for supplies out of their own pockets.

"While this is major progress, this investment alone will not undo a decade of neglect", said Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) President Alicia Priest in a press release.[1] "Lawmakers have left funding on the table that could be used immediately to help Oklahoma students."

The mobilization by teachers in Oklahoma follows a multi-day strike in West Virginia earlier this month during which educators and school employees also occupied the state capitol to demand raises and a permanent funding solution for their health insurance program. The West Virginia strike kept the state's schools closed for nine consecutive school days and continued after lawmakers passed a one-time five percent raise, with teachers insisting that all their demands be met.

[...] "This package doesn't overcome shortfall caused by four-day weeks, overcrowded classrooms that deprive kids of the one-on-one attention they need. It's not enough", Priest said. "We must continue to push for more annual funding for our schools to reduce class size and restore more of the 28 percent of funds they cut from education over the last decade."

[1] Content is behind scripts.


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  • (Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @12:58PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @12:58PM (#660350)

    It isn't about practical outcomes; it's about dominance; it's about emotion.

    You are being forced at the point of a gun to fund these imbeciles. It's totally absurd—it's anathema to a free society.

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  • (Score: 5, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @02:02PM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @02:02PM (#660362)

    Uf you think education is expensive, try ignorance.

    • (Score: 4, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Friday March 30 2018, @03:34PM (2 children)

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday March 30 2018, @03:34PM (#660404) Journal

      You do realize that some of the most ignorant sons of bitches in the world have been treated to very expensive educations?

      • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @07:20PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @07:20PM (#660484)

        You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @11:20PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @11:20PM (#660601)

          "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't lead a horticulture."
          Betsy DeVos, (exampla gratia, non auctoris.)

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @03:54PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 30 2018, @03:54PM (#660409)

      I think our school system is expensive and it still pumps out ignoramuses in massive numbers. Rote memorization factories are not exactly good at educating people, after all. 'It's better than nothing.' is about the best you can say.