BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Some teachers are planning a statewide walkout from the classroom next month to demand, they say, better treatment and working conditions for educators in the Palmetto State.
“Those that care about public education in South Carolina demand better teacher pay, smaller class size, removing other duties as assigned from teacher contracts, less testing and a pledge from our legislature that they will say no to for-profit charter schools and educational savings accounts,” according to the grassroots S.C. teachers’ group, SCforED, who is organizing the protest scheduled for May 1.
Organizers of the event will also march to the State House in Columbia to demand “common sense public education reform” since they say their demands continue to be ignored.
“Our grievances have fallen on deaf ears as witnessed by a lack of good faith action on the matters public school teachers have petitioned for redress throughout this session,” reads a Change.org petition by the group. “We, the public school teachers of South Carolina, do ordain and declare May 1st, 2019 to be a day of reflection and renewal through direct action.”
Teachers are set to receive at least a 4% pay raise next year, however, SCforED says more is needed.
“The 4% raise is a positive step forward, but it’s just one step,” stated event organizers.
It’s not entirely clear if Berkeley County public school teachers will walk out of the classroom on May 1, however, the Berkeley County School District is responding to the upcoming event:
“The Berkeley County School Board and administration passionately support the cause and well-being of its educators. We stand alone in giving teachers a mid-year retroactive, locally funded pay increase. Although we support our teachers who choose to advocate in Columbia, our mission and first priority is the safety of students and their educational success. We will follow our policies regarding leave determinations to effectively ensure the operations of our schools continue on May 1, 2019, while not infringing on the rights of our employees. We remain committed to doing so in a viewpoint/apolitical manner that puts our children first.”
To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.
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