Response to LRSD strike possibilities |
posted by: Melissa | October 07, 2019, 05:09 PM |
With the threat of a strike by the Arkansas Education Association’s Little Rock Education Association, Arkansas State Teachers Association issued the following statement: “Teachers and education staff are all too often under-supported, under-led, and over-tasked—and they’re frustrated. In response teachers’ unions are offering more of the same: polarizing partisan politics and disruptive strikes. Partisan politics and strikes will never provide the change teachers and students need. “The Arkansas State Teachers Association, as articulated in our Code of Ethics for Educators, does not support strikes. Arkansas Supreme Court has repeatedly indicated the Court considers teacher strikes, and public sector strikes in general, to be illegal. Strikes are tremendously disruptive to the learning environment, withholding crucial learning time, services, and other care students rely on schools to provide. Not only do strikes disproportionately affect a district’s most struggling students, families, and employees, strikes can erode much of the goodwill of parents and communities increasingly receptive to teacher concerns. “To be clear, striking teachers are not uncaring people—they’re exhausted and exasperated. There is evidence teachers have been misinformed of the facts and pressured, being told that a contentious strike is absolutely necessary. It is not. Adversarial actions oppress support and collaboration. We must empower individual teachers and restore their voice at the policy table. Teachers, students, parents, administrators, policymakers, and communities must work together, not against one another. “ASTA encourages our members to follow their conscience and the law and be respectful of colleagues. This is when kids need and deserve the stability, focus, and competence of their classroom teachers and support staff more than ever. We at ASTA remain committed to a teaching profession that is well-respected, student-oriented, and personally fulfilling.” About the Arkansas State Teachers Association
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