[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This legislative season, Utah’s teachers were actively involved, disappointed and then publicly insulted for caring.
FEATURE STORY: COMMERCIAL TOURISM DESTROYS NATURAL BEAUTY OF VACATION LOCALES
The last week of debate this legislative season brought one of the largest and most enthusiastic rallies to the Utah Capitol. Public school supporters championed for change and support from Utah lawmakers. Significant funding increases were made but still fell short of the proposed needs, which led to teachers feeling disappointed and disgruntled. What was shocking and completely belittling was Utah’s state Superintendent Brad Smith commenting in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, “It reminded me of when my kid was three years old and started crying on Christmas morning because they didn’t get one more thing.” Some Utah lawmakers were also heard this season making offensive remarks criticizing Utah’s public school teachers. These sneers by those in power bring to light the real issues threatening our educators, which are respect and support.
It is a popular notion among educators that the greatest roadblocks to teaching are the lack of government support and local bureaucratic suppression. Contrary to popular belief, teachers did not gather out of greed for higher pay. Rather, they joined voices with students and parents to ask for change. When lawmakers this season criticized teachers as incompetent individuals with poor work ethics, and when the superintendent called them ungrateful, tantrum-throwing children, the flood gates opened with Utah educators and citizens figuratively throwing their hands up and saying, “You see?! This is what we have to deal with.”
Utah public schools have been struggling with low monetary support for quite some time. We are literally sitting at the bottom of the country’s list of state-by-state weighted pupil units. This means Utah spends the lowest amount of money per student in the entire country. Teachers have to resort to spending their own money on copies for class, tissues and other necessities. Despite the lack of state support, they are excelling in their roles as educators.
Utah’s conservative legislature is well-known for belittling and scrutinizing public school teachers. The goal this year was simply to return funding to pre-recession levels. The new funding is significant and not extremely below the goal that was set. All things considered, great steps were taken. But this was unavoidable and necessary. What was absolutely avoidable and completely unnecessary was the attack on teachers.
The signing of SB235, a bill which calls for the hiring of consultants to work with the administrators of failing schools, again shows a refusal to listen to the cries of those who are telling us what the problems really are. Teachers can only do so much with their own income in the classrooms. Advancements in technology require additional funding in order to adequately instruct the rising generations. Utah schools are outdated and underfunded. And that is not the fault of teachers.
Superintendent Smith has since submitted a public apology for his comment, calling it a “gaffe” during a time when he was tired and stressed. What those who had placed their faith in him hear is that beneath it all, he actually has a low regard for Utah’s teachers.
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