Pink Hearts, Not Pink Slips, for Our Educators

Randi Weingarten is part of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change.

We just celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week, thanking teachers for putting their heart and soul-not to mention long hours well beyond the school day-into making a difference in the lives of their students. But simultaneously, there is devastating news coming out of statehouses and school districts that could set back education for years to come.

The residual effects of the deep recession are still with us and are landing in America's classrooms. Severe education budget cuts are resulting in slashed programs and services, and more than a quarter-million pink slips for educators. The level of these cuts is staggering and unsustainable. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has estimated that as many as 300,000 teachers and other school staff could be laid off by fall. Think about that-this number is about the same as the entire population of Toledo, Ohio, or Pittsburgh, Pa.

In the schools where they occur, these layoffs will have a dramatic effect on every student and his or her educational services. It's lunacy to be making cuts of this magnitude as we work on meaningful school reforms to boost student achievement.

The stories I am hearing from pink-slipped teachers across the country-from California to New Mexico, Ohio and Illinois-all resonate with the same concerns about what this will mean for our children. We shouldn't have to look our children in the eyes and tell them that, sorry, a reckless and greedy Wall Street wreaked havoc on our economy and now you're going to suffer with bigger class sizes, no art, no music, no P.E. and no summer school. And how can we explain that intervention programs for the kids who need help the most will be cut? We said Wall Street was too big too fail. Education should be considered too big to fail. We can't shortchange kids and their education just as we're making inroads on genuine reforms that will transform public schools.

It's up to us to take a stand and do what's right for our children, our families, our communities and our country's future. This is about saving the next generation-teacher jobs are synonymous with education for our kids. Educators can touch the life of a child in ways that few others can.

The American Federation of Teachers has launched a national "Pink Hearts, Not Pink Slips" campaign to raise awareness among parents and the public about the cuts and layoffs school districts and colleges are facing now and into the next school year. The immediate remedy to deal with this dire situation is to pass federal legislation, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), that would provide a $23 billion lifeline to school districts and colleges. The federal aid will help keep educators where they belong: in the classrooms, not on unemployment lines. Join us in our fight, and show your support for this legislation-visit PinkHeartsNotPinkSlips.com to find out how you can help.

Photo credit: Tristan Roddis