Lawrence Baines, associate dean for graduate studies and research at the University of Oklahoma Jeanine Rainbolt College of Education, and Jim Machell (dean of the College of Education at the University of Central Oklahoma) recently wrote a commentary for Education Week entitled The War on Teachers Comes to Oklahoma. Baines and Machell lament that "The impending teacher strike in Oklahoma is a crucible of the future of public school teachers in America.", and point to the federal government as the enemy now waging the war on teachers and public schools in general. While the war on our public schools began with Arne Duncan (the U.S. Department of Education Secretary under Barack Obama) supporting corporate charter schools and private schools in the acquisition of federal tax dollars, the war has continued and even accelerated under Betsy DeVos, the present U.S.D.E Secretary. Dr. Baines and Dr. Machell go on to state that the War has now trickled down to Oklahoma and is being waged by some of our own state legislators, namely "corporate" lawmakers (not liberal or conservative) who are under the direction of Betsy DeVos. These Oklahoma State Legislators have led the nation in reducing per-pupil expenditures since 2008 and "...continued to turn 'their collective backs' on public education in shocking ways. Last year, in the midst of a billion-dollar budget shortfall, 'corporate legislators' considered new voucher laws that would have redirected hundreds of millions of dollars to private schools." Just this year, a corporate lawmaker - Tim Downing introduced House Bill 2782, which will direct $millions more to private schools, and away from public schools. HB 2782 is called the "taxpayer bill" because it's the Oklahoma taxpayer who will foot the "bill". Also, "In an illogical move, 'corporate lawmakers' cut taxes on oil production from 7% to 2% in 2014" and will fight to prevent the rate from being restored to 7%. "This was a painful cut and hurt the state deeply."
Oklahoma was first almost injured beyond repair during the late 1920's and 1930's when federal farming subsidies (known as "corporate welfare") were provided to out-of-state corporate farmers, known as "suitcase farmers", to plow up the top-soil and plant wheat. What resulted was the greatest man-made disaster the world has ever known - the Dust Bowl. Our own Oklahoma State Legislature was in cahoots with the federal government even back then, just as it is today. Oklahoma Legislators responsible for the "Dust Bowl of public education" make many politically correct statements (rhetoric) regarding our public schools, but which are inaccurate and sometimes just untrue.
As we get closer to the April 2 teacher walk-out, corporate lawmakers are getting nervous and will unveil the newest "Hail Mary" teacher pay raise. As a matter of fact, House leadership is immediately releasing a Teacher Pay Raise Plan Explored, and allowed the House corporate membership to modify - to fit their respective individual districts. Individual district reps. may simply "insert name" to get full credit for the Transformational (Sic) Teacher Pay Raise (TTPR) plan. The heading of the provided letter reads:
Teacher Pay Raise Plan Explored
By Rep. (insert name here)
The form letter begins by making brash statements about how much the corporate lawmaker supports teachers and public schools such as "I always support making Oklahoma competitive in teacher pay" and " I have voted for all teacher pay bills presented to the House during regular and special legislative sessions over the past 14 months (not true). It is important to note that many corporate lawmakers do not consider "teacher pay bills" as teacher pay bills if the bill provides funding for appropriate school operational services or state employee raises. "I have heard some misunderstanding by some that I do not support teachers or schools because I voted against bills that were literally the largest tax increases in state history..." Good corporate spin, but what the corporate lawmaker calls tax increases is actually a restoration of tax rates that have been cut over the past 10 years. For example, restoring the gross production tax to 5% from its present 2% is not a massive tax increase, as the GPT used to be 7%. However, (Insert name, or I) have consistently voted for measures that eliminated government handouts and waste... (Instructions from corporate leadership dictate that the Rep. not get too detailed about specific handouts and waste eliminated, as this could come back to bite the Rep. later). For instance, corporate bosses believe that public education is a government handout and "waste" is a teacher pay raise. However, many corporate lawmakers believe a little school consolidation could help solve this problem. Also, several corporate legislators believe that public school waste could be eliminated by authoring and passing school voucher bills like HB 2782. Another corporate example of government waste is noted in the statement ... the elimination of credits and rebates for wind and energy... (wind and energy) or (wind energy)? It is unknown what energy the corporate leadership refers, but it's probably not oil and gas - since most corporate legislators have received $ tens of thousands from the oil and gas industry for their campaign war chests.
The details of the TTPR will undoubtedly be unveiled before April 2, as a carrot for teachers to delay the scheduled walk-out. It's anyone's guess as to this pay plan's ability to stem the tide and prevent a teacher strike, but many believe it won't do the trick. We should know something by Wednesday, March 28, if this latest in a long string of teacher pay plans is successful. Stay tuned..
Monday night, March 26... It looks like the House may pass a teacher pay raise plan, but it won't be Downing's darling - as most of the plan appears to rely on "massive tax increases" (in Downing's words) for the pay raise. However, it is still to be seen how he votes on the bill, so he may still love it.
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