I'm writing to inform people about the problems with economic furloughs of teachers.
Teaching is a constant learning process. Teachers get better with experience. Cutting our most senior and experienced teachers might make financial sense, but it is not sound educational policy.
Teachers do not gain 20 years of experience by sliding by in the classroom. They work hard to craft their skills as teachers. They not only teach children in school but help to develop new teachers in their districts by passing on the knowledge they have gained from years of classroom experience.
State Senate Bill 612, which would allow school districts to furlough teachers solely for economic reasons, would encourage school districts to lay off their most senior teachers whenever they want to balance their budgets. It would give no incentive for districts to be fiscally responsible. If districts makes mistakes that put them in financial trouble, no problem -- just lay off some senior teachers.
Unfortunately, students would pay the price for school districts' bad economic decision-making.
Richard Texter
West Deer
The writer has taught social studies for 13 years at North Hills Junior High School.
