Didn’t vote for walkout

As a teacher, I will not be voting for a walkout in my district because inconveniencing families does not convey the message teachers are trying to send the Legislature. The state needs to either make good on the promises it has made to the public regarding education, or re-evaluate and then communicate proper expectations and funding of the educational system.

For example, did you know that when the state funds all-day kindergarten, it really only funds all-day kindergarten for a district that has existing space? (If a district does not have the space, the Legislature won’t fund the new building needed. That’s a large expense the local district must take on.)

Maybe if funding models covered the true expenses of programs, or accurate expectations were set on what programs basic education covered, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Legislators should stop with the unfunded or underfunded mandates and knock it off with the deceitful sound bites.

Teachers, we have to make communities aware of the inadequacies in our current system, but let’s be careful how we convey our frustrations to the public. We need their help.

Steve Hitchcock

Spokane