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Pennsylvania Teachers: A Privileged Class

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Senator Piccola issued a statement applauding ten Pennsylvania school districts for holding the line on spending and producing "no tax increases" budgets. That is indeed a commendable action on the part of the school districts.

Meanwhile, the Governor insists that next year’s budget contain a big jump in state spending for education. This at a time when the state faces a massive decline in revenues owing to the recession and serious job losses. And what’s worse, the proposals to increase spending for education are accompanied by promises of better education results. Experience tells us that more money for education does not translate into higher levels of student performance. It simply makes the employees in the education establishment better off and creates more jobs that can be filled with new union members.

One should not be surprised to learn that the PSEA (state teachers union) is strongly supportive of the Governor’s plan. Indeed, they are undoubtedly leading the charge and lobbying the legislature hard to get the spending increase.

And therein lies the heart of the problem. Teachers in Pennsylvania are already a protected species and enough is never enough for them. If they were at all public spirited they would volunteer to forego this year’s salary and benefit increases in order to help school districts with their budget problems. The next union to volunteer to do that will be the first.

Moreover, under state law-which they almost certainly helped author-teachers cannot be laid off unless there is a significant enrollment decline in their district. Thus, the teachers are protected from any of the market forces most private sector workers and many public sector workers are subject to. They must receive contracted raises and they cannot be put out of work, regardless of the hardships imposed on taxpayers, many of whom are having recession caused financial difficulties. Pretty cushy arrangement for the teachers.

Is there a possibility the state law will be changed to allow school districts to lay off teachers during periods of financial hardship as can be done in other states? Not a chance. The PSEA and their friends have too much political power and influence for that to happen.

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