Keep furloughs out of schools

Editorials

Discussion

September 2, 2009

Anonymous The Tahlequah Daily Press Wed Sep 02, 2009, 10:21 AM CDT

All across the country, students and teachers have been heading back to the classroom for another year of reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic.

Well, sort of.

In Georgia, statewide furloughs have been mandated this term for all teachers. And in New Mexico, Florida and California, many individual districts are also following suit.

It’s understandable that in the current economy, states are looking for a variety of ways to trim their budgets. But in education? Because it directly affects the welfare and the future of our children, shouldn’t that be a last resort?

It’s not like teachers are paid particularly well anywhere, although some would argue otherwise. Generally those who do argue otherwise fail to acknowledge that a person who plays such a fundamental role in a child’s life should indeed be paid well, if he or she does the job well. And it goes without saying that those who fail to perform up to snuff simply shouldn’t have the job to begin with.

In regard to Georgia’s particular situation, one has to wonder whether the legislators who ordered the furloughs for teachers and other government employees are themselves being furloughed. Somehow we doubt it; at least, we could find no record of it.

What legislators have done, in Oklahoma and elsewhere, is cut taxes for those who, frankly, don’t need tax cuts. When this happens, it’s inevitable that services or jobs will have to be cut as well. And while every government entity undoubtedly has a number of bloated areas where cuts could easily be implemented, these areas never seem to be the ones to fall under the shadow of the ax.

We can wish on every star for all of Oklahoma’s legislators to possess the foresight and common sense of our own here in Cherokee County, but for the time being, that’s not the case. We can also keep our fingers crossed that some of the boneheaded decisions at the statehouse level won’t lead to furloughs for Oklahoma’s teachers.

One thing is for sure: That would not be a good move for the Tahlequah district. Many patrons are turning a wary eye toward expenditures that – to them, anyway – may seem frivolous during tough times. Questions will be asked, and complaints lodged. And even if the powers that be tried to keep the bad news under wraps, it would certainly leak out.

Oklahomans need to hold their legislators responsible for what happens to the education system in this state. But remember, patrons must also hold their individual school boards responsible for decisions made on the local level. They are the ones who ultimately approve expenditures. At the very least, they approve the continued employment of folks who make expenditures.

Text Only

Editorials

Earmarks by Inhofe, others aren’t right
That smell in the air might not be bacon frying in your kitchen, but the unfolding of another porky project for an Oklahoma politician.

February 10, 2012
Press release deadlines for candidates
If you are running for a political office for which Cherokee County voters can cast ballots, it’s not too early to be thinking about a press release announcing your candidacy. Indeed, some have announcements already appeared in the Daily Press.

February 8, 2012
Superintendent pay: Freeze it
Rep. Jason Nelson, R-Oklahoma City, may not have planned to seek hero status; perhaps his action was even designed to make up for past legislative offenses. Either way, he’s about to become the darling of the moment for many Oklahomans who believe certain public school superintendents make far too much money.
Nelson is calling for a freeze on superintendents’ salaries, and rightly so.

February 6, 2012
Is your stuff not getting published?
If you’re a regular contributor to the “news” side of the Daily Press, we hope you haven’t noticed anything missing lately – like copy or photos you’ve submitted to us for publication. But if you have, there’s a good reason why, and there’s something you can do about it.

February 2, 2012
Cast your ballot, for children’s sake
As the old saying goes, if you don’t vote, you don’t have a right to complain about what you get.

January 18, 2012
Do your part to help THS senior party
Graduation from high school is a rite of passage – for many young people, the first major milestone in their lives. It signifies the end of childhood, and the crossing of the threshold into adulthood, although the newly minted adults still won’t be old enough to drink for another couple of years.

January 14, 2012
Drivers must stop for all school buses
Earlier this week, an 11-year-old boy was struck by a car after he got off a school bus on Downing Street. Fortunately, the boy wasn’t gravely injured, but he could have been.

January 13, 2012
Service unappreciated
It has become evident that the sentiment, “thank you for your service,” is an empty one when it comes to the medical profession.

January 13, 2012
Grateful to Kiwanis
I would like to let Tahlequah and Cherokee County know how grateful we are for the home improvements made by the Kiwanis Club and other volunteers.

January 13, 2012
Alcohol policy a sound idea
Recently, the Tahlequah City Council denied for the second time a request by Tom Barlow to host a wine-tasting and beer garden this fall as part of his annual Art of Living festival in Norris Park.

January 11, 2012
More Editorials Headlines

Tax-filing season is upon us. Which best describes your course of action?

Editorials

Search Results

Discussion

Keep furloughs out of schools

Tax-filing season is upon us. Which best describes your course of action?

Site Map

Contact Us