BY RUSSELL TURNER
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT
Over the past several weeks and months we have heard a constant stream of news articles about the dismal state of underfunding in the education system here in Oklahoma. It would be interesting to take a poll of the average citizens on the street and simply ask them how much of the appropriated state budget goes to education; I would bet that very few would know that over half of the budget goes to education. Education consumes more money than all of the other departments combined. Over the past several weeks there has been a call for the teachers of this state to strike for higher wages; while this call may get the education lobby whipped into a frenzy, there are some facts that all of us need to remember.
I come from the working sector, prices and contracts are a way of life to us. My father was a union construction worker for the majority of his working years. He and his other fellow tradesmen negotiated with their employers for their hourly wage for a specific period of time. When their contract with their employers was completed only then would they ask for more money or increased benefits, until then they worked for the wage they agreed too. It is my understanding that all teachers sign a contract at the beginning of the school year to provide their services for that year, the contract insures the school district having the necessary personal to educate the children and it also insures the teacher of having a job for the entire school year without having to fear being terminated over trivial disagreements. In the labor sector if the workers stop working while under contract it is considered breach of contract; it amazes me how we can forget that simple concept when it comes to the teaching profession.
There are many pieces of legislation that affect me personally and I do call my elected officials and voice my opposition, but I do not have the time or the finances to go to the state capital and carry signs all day demanding something from the legislature. If I do take the time to go to the capital I do it at my own expense and I have to neglect some of the work that I have to do on a daily basis; not only do I have the expense to go to OKC, but I also lose the income I would have earned that day. Our school systems should not be using school property to haul bus loads of teachers to the state capital to pressure our lawmakers.
I feel that I have a better solution. Spring break is just over a week away, it is the right of every Oklahoman to seek representation for their point of view; maybe instead of shutting down schools across the state they should consider using the break time to go to OKC. Our children would not have their learning interrupted and the point could be made. Also fulfill the current contract and negotiate for better pay in the next contract period. The mainstream media is not doing the average citizen justice in their slanted reporting, the average HOUSEHOLD income in Oklahoma is $48,038.00 and the per capita income is $25,628.00. In my home county of Adair the HOUSEHOLD income is $33,184.00 and the per capita income is $16,018.00. When the average teacher salary is 44,000.00 the citizens might like to pay more, but after paying all of their obligations they don’t have the funds to pay more.
I believe in the free market system, and if anyone feels that they deserve more money after their contract has expired knock yourself out and go on strike at that time like the rest of us. One final note, when someone in the private sector goes on strike their salary and benefits cease to exist until they return to work.
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