Stimulus Funds to Rehire Teachers Banked for the Future Instead

by Brittany Shoot · 2010-08-19 13:25:00 UTC
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It's a horrible time to be a teacher. Many are being laid-off or battling for fair salaries. A number are fighting for their colleagues — janitors, cafeteria workers, counselors, bus drivers, and other school personnel who are also being laid off in record numbers. Some teachers are even resorting to asking their students to pitch in for classroom supplies.

But the New York Times reports that even when school districts are given funds to rehire laid-off teachers, they aren't necessarily doing it. Terrified that things could still get worse, they're hoarding the money for anticipated future budget shortfalls instead of re-employing the teachers now, whenstudents need them and when they need the jobs.

The trouble, of course, is that this is perfectly within the prescribed limits of the original bill signed by President Obama. The stimulus package stipulates that states must allocate their portion of the $10 billion federal money to school districts this year, but that the individual districts have until September 2012 to spend the money. This allows them to sit on their reserves in case of even greater emergency. The question is, are they hurting more people in the process?

Many districts fear rehiring too many teachers when funding for next year hasn't been guaranteed. But the Times reports that teachers' unions are pushing for rehires now, as temporary relief for everyone. Out-of-work teachers need their jobs back, and children need smaller classes and more individual attention. Learning can't stop just because there's no way to pay for it.

This is obviously contentious. Do we want to save jobs now, or do we want to further education later? Do we want to employ laid-off teachers and put them to work for our children's future, or do we want to be sure there will be enough for school districts to hire back a full teaching staff later on? Right now, many districts are being forced to make that choice, impossible as it is.

Photo credit: Chicago 2016 Photos

Brittany Shoot is a writer and editor whose work has been published by Bitch, In These Times, the New York Times, RH Reality Check, truthout and ZNet.
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