On Monday, teachers in Kentucky and Oklahoma walked out of school to protest cuts in pay, benefits and school funding. Josh Eidelson, labor reporter at Bloomberg News, and Lawrence Lane, a history teacher from Checotah, Oklahoma, and an OEA member, talk about the strikes, which have grown in force since starting in West Virginia earlier this year.
@okea member Lawrence Lane: "I am walking out until the legislature decides to do something about fully funding education in Oklahoma...we are walking out because of a lack of educational funding...we've lost classes, we've lost teachers... ."
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) April 3, 2018
Just as a reference point for our NY-area listeners -- teacher + @okea member Lawrence Lane says he earns $44K after 38 years of teaching + works multiple other jobs to make ends meet.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) April 3, 2018
So much of this [teacher salary] rests with state legislatures and governors, esp. where there are no collective bargaining agreements, says @josheidelson.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) April 3, 2018