Senate Bill 5

Senate Bill 5 is quite an interesting turn in current issues in education. Absolutely state budget reform is needed, but destroying the total collective bargaining rights of public employees is not the answer to public education issues.

In my years of public education, I have seen trends come and go. Never have teachers been so vilified - as if we are responsible for the current financial woes. Also, Ohio is an embarrassment in the way the shady dealings went on to get this Senate Bill 5 passed in the Senate.

What the heck is going on with Ohio teacher salaries?

Ohio Senate Bill 5 may tear down education. The best teachers might leave and use our skills in other professions (like learning how to make a website that pays well without all of this political stress!).

Beyond legal issues in education, there are also the ethical issues in education. Senate Bill 5 is more than a legal issue - it crosses the line into unethical, unfair and demoralizing of labor relations.

It is not that I have an issue with merit evaluations or putting more into my retirement and health care.

I also think it would be fantastic to finally be able to get rid of poor teachers. I personally applaud that part of the bill. However, this feels more like a political move than one in the best interest of education.

I am worth more than a first year teacher (and am also worth more than some experienced ones). However, merit pay drives down salaries - it does not reward excellence. I have the expertise in what kids need best to learn - not the politicians or the school board (check to see how many have ever been teachers on your local board!).

Some say that this will not hurt the kids? Okay, but what do you want from your schools? Small class sizes? Expert teachers (takes money to be trained!)? Individual attention? Your gifted child's needs being met? Extra services for your special needs child? Well…at least three of those things are negotiated by our unions. Only one is federally mandated - special needs services.

If I have to vote "No" on my district levy coming up, then other public workers may have to as well. That means more cuts at the schools, the quality of clientele will go down because nobody will want to live here, teachers will leave…it will hurt everyone in the long run.

One of the current issues in education this Bill will also effect is tax levies. Although most Ohio schools are at the 20 mill floor, those that aren't will have to levy for operating expenses for at least 20 mill before receiving state funding for their districts (the other two caveats to this are the actual number of school days and teachers only receiving salaries based on merit evaluations).

Remember that issues like Ohio Senate Bill 5 effect more public workers than just teachers.

Firefighters and police officers that we expect to risk their lives for us...nurses we expect to care for us when we are injured...these servants are all under attack.

Here is a great article about health care in Canada and how it is mandated by the government that these workers have collective bargaining rights.

Add your voice to the current issues in education surrounding Senate Bill 5. What do you think? Just keep it clean, please!

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