Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Turning the Tables on Teachers
Here’s a fantasy about how parents and taxpayers can turn the tables on striking teacher unions. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if the overwhelming majority of parents and students in a district suffering through a strike were to decide that when the teachers come back to work, they will go on strike? Students would stay away from school for the same number of days the teachers were out on picket lines. The students and parents could march around carrying signs demanding more respect from the teachers who should be more professional than to maliciously foul up their education and disrupt their lives.
If this were to catch on, it could force the legislature into finally putting an end to the teachers’ right to strike in Pennsylvania, the worst state in the union for teacher strikes.
To enhance the fantasy, wouldn’t it be tremendous if taxpayers in the school district were to pro-rate their school taxes and withhold payment for the days teachers are out. If teachers walk out for 10 days, then the taxpayer would hold back 10 divided by 180, or 6 percent of their school tax.
Granted, none of this is likely to happen because of the coordination it would require. But at some point, maybe parents and taxpayers will simply get mad enough to demand an end to the enormous advantage in bargaining power the right to strike gives the unions.
If this were to catch on, it could force the legislature into finally putting an end to the teachers’ right to strike in Pennsylvania, the worst state in the union for teacher strikes.
To enhance the fantasy, wouldn’t it be tremendous if taxpayers in the school district were to pro-rate their school taxes and withhold payment for the days teachers are out. If teachers walk out for 10 days, then the taxpayer would hold back 10 divided by 180, or 6 percent of their school tax.
Granted, none of this is likely to happen because of the coordination it would require. But at some point, maybe parents and taxpayers will simply get mad enough to demand an end to the enormous advantage in bargaining power the right to strike gives the unions.
