Public Education under attack by Haslam and crew

By: Barbara Snyder (Retired Public School Teacher)

Governor Haslam's defense of Commissioner Huffman may not be surprising but certainly dims my respect for the Governor.  No one has done more to destroy the morale of public school teachers than Commissioner Huffman and the State Board of Education's decision to change the state salary schedule for teachers.  This is one more nail in the coffin for public school teachers.  The teachers have lost their right to negotiate, now have all their evaluations based on test scores, charter schools are being promoted, and the method for achieving tenure was changed.  Teachers at all levels are expected to do more with less money and support from their superiors.  Why would anyone want to teach in Tennessee's public schools when it appears that every effort is being made to destroy them?  Public school education has been the backbone of America for many generations and has served us well in the past.  Instead of constantly criticizing teachers all the time, why not ask teachers for their opinion about solutions to some of the problems?  You might be surprised at the good ideas you could get from them. 

CCDP Notes: Mrs. Snyder serves the CCDP as a executive board  member. Her letter featured above was printed in the Tennessean. We would like to thank Mrs. Snyder's hard work and dedication in standing up for public education and educators.