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Public school students in our area and, it appears, throughout West Virginia will not be in class today. Unions representing many of their teachers and service personnel have called a strike -- again.
It is all over the union leaders' determination to show the West Virginia state Senate who's boss. In particular, it is over Senate Bill 451, the omnibus education proposal.
Union leaders do not like certain provisions of the bill. One that seems to have annoyed them especially involves charter schools. A House of Delegates version of the bill would have authorized just two charter schools. On Monday, the Senate, in an 18-16 vote, rejected that and approved a measure calling for up to seven charters. Also included in the Senate version is a provision that would allow establishment of up to 1,000 education savings accounts for parents taking children out of public schools and sending them to charters.
Earlier this year, while senators were debating the plan, union officials reminded them of what happened last year. Then, you may recall, schools were closed for nine days because lawmakers did not act as quickly as the union leaders desired on measures including public employee pay raises and the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
Proceed with SB 451, and the schools will be shut down again, legislators were told.
And they have followed through with that threat.
Shutting schools down with a strike is harmful to the very children union leaders claim to be defending. Students in our area already have missed numerous days of school because of inclement weather. Another lengthy work stoppage will make it virtually impossible for children to be taught everything that had been on the schedule for this year.
Our children should not be used as pawns in a political power struggle -- and that is precisely what is in progress.
Striking today dramatizes the unions' point. But teachers and service personnel should go back to work tomorrow -- for the kids.