ISTA STATEMENT: Senate committee's maneuvers example of teacher disrespect
02/17/2016

 

Today, the Senate Pensions and Labor Committee heard a bill that its supporters tout as an effort to help solve the teacher shortage in Indiana. Contrary to fairness and longstanding process, the vote was taken on the bill before the largest group representing teachers had the opportunity to fully testify.

 

A representative from the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) was denied a chance to speak on behalf of teachers prior to the vote on the bill, ensuring that the teachers’ perspective on this teacher bill would not be factored as legislators vote.

 

In fact, ISTA was interrupted to be informed that the vote would occur at that moment, but testimony could continue after the fact.

 

ISTA President, Teresa Meredith issued the following statement following the committee meeting:

 

“Throughout the discussion of the teacher shortage this past year, teacher disrespect has been the most common complaint from teachers,” said Meredith.

 

“The fact that this committee would hear from special interest groups first without hearing from the collective voice of teachers, further feeds into the narrative of disrespect that teachers are feeling.”

 

“What occurred today was both a shame and an indictment on a fair process.”