Kansas Mass Teacher Exodus: 3,720 and Counting Thanks to GOP 'Reform'

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/31256-kansas-mass-teacher-exodus-3720-and-counting-thanks-to-gop-reform

Classroom spending cuts, uncertain school financing, low pay and eroding tenure protections all play into a hostile climate in Kansas that teachers and school administrators say is spurring a surge of teacher departures and retirements.

At least 3,720 Kansas teachers have left the state, retired or taken jobs outside of education after this past school year, a huge jump from the 2,150 who did so just a couple of years ago, according to a newly released data by Kansas State Department of Education.

The teacher exodus comes as a panel of district judges declared last month that key parts of a new state law for funding public schools violate the state constitution. The panel ordered an immediate increase in funds, but the Kansas Supreme Court later stayed that order pending its review.

But it is not just the financing problems fueling a perception education in Kansas is under attack. The GOP-dominated Legislature also tried to limit teachers' bargaining power and sought unsuccessfully to pass a law that would allow teachers to be criminally prosecuted for presenting material deemed harmful to minors.

"Instead of funding our schools, (lawmakers) are vilifying our teachers," said Mark Farr, a high school science teacher now serving as president of the Kansas National Education Association.

[ladjf]

1. Republicans are wrecking public education all over the Country.

Would someone give me their opinion as to why they are doing that? Is it to give power to the "theocrats"? Charter schools?
A more controllable voting population? Money?

[GeorgeGist]

3. Theyre cheapskates.

[Ka hrnt]

6. All of the above?

Who knows. The real question is why are Democrats behind so many of these same anti-public education policies?

[bulloney]

2. It's a Koch Bros. wet dream.

Create an uneducated population that's so gullible you can manipulate anything on them.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Why isn't Brownback a candidate for the GOP nomination ?

He's done more for his state than Christie, Jindal, Kasich, Pataki or Walker have for theirs ! They've only started ruining their states, he's actually delivered - politically, economically, and socially !

[AwakeAtLast]

5. It's beginning in IN, too

Our legislature is not too far from Kansas, unfortunately.