Don't let Procedural Gimmicks in the House Derail Education Reform
Now is our opportunity to make a historic change for Tennessees schools. To remove partisan politics from the classroom and give teachers a fighting chance to actually help students learn without the bureaucracy of the teachers unions getting in the way.
The TN state Senate has already passed legislation to end collective bargaining with teachers unions. Now that legislation may be stalled in the House of Representatives.
State representatives must not back down to procedural gimmicks meant to deprive Tennesseans of meaningful education reform. Taxpayers deserve an up or down vote on HB 130 and we need it now!
We can no longer wait for Tennessee’s schools to improve. More funding is not the answer when funding is not directed to excellence in the classroom. The politically partisan teachers unions have misdirected education funding, misdirected education policy and are leaving our teachers and students short-changed.
We need the House to pass HB 130 and we need it done this year.
The teachers unions in Tennessee have had decades of prominence in our states education system. The union has had a seat at the table and has directed education policy that has affected all public school children and teachers.
The unions have been the obstacle to merit pay, the idea of rewarding excellent teachers. Instead the union has fought for longevity pay, giving teachers more money simply for staying on the job. A job, by the way, they cannot lose because of tenure. The unions have fought for strong tenure protection, currently after only three years on the job, which makes it nearly impossible to remove ineffective teachers from the classroom.
The teachers union has fought against school choice by opposing HB 388, legislation that would have helped inner-city students attend the school of their choice by instituting a limited voucher system.
Click here to demand reform to our school system. Support HB 130.
The teachers unions have held a strong grip on Tennessees education system and our students, teachers and taxpayers have little to show for it. Tennessees high school graduation rate is 72%. Average teacher pay in Tennessee is one of the lowest in the country and yet taxpayers are shelling billions to the school system every year.
Our public schools need change. The unions have lined their own pockets and spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on partisan political campaigns for their own power; not to help students and teachers.
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