LANSING, Mich. — Unionized teachers in Michigan and Wisconsin are conducting “grade-ins” at malls and hotels in the latest round of fighting over public education funding, according to media reports. Lansing area teachers told WILX-TV that they want to show the public that educators work hard.
The teachers are doing such work as grading homework and writing notes to parents during the public gatherings, according to WILX. A similar, union-organized event has been announced this month for Clare area teachers.
The teachers hope Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposal to cut school funding falls through, but some lawmakers have said the state must address rising pension and health care costs for teachers before giving schools more money, WILX reported.
Similar grade-ins have been held in Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Jersey and Oklahoma.
SOURCE:
WILX-TV, “Teachers
take budget battles to local malls,” April 10, 2011
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Helpful Facts about Michigan’s Public
Sector,” March 15, 2011
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