Just before May Day, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and state schools chief Molly Spearman had some consoling words for working parents who would soon need to deal with the effects of thousands of South Carolina teachers deserting their classrooms on May 1 in the pursuit of more cash provided by taxpayers. But McMaster and Spearman only deserve half a hooray.
It is about time someone in authority spoke up for parents and children who are the victim of teachers showcasing their demands by shirking their duties. However, actions would speak louder than words. Actions to penalize immoral—and potentially illegal—job actions in public schooling have been few and far between.
Not only do the teacher sickouts, walkouts, strikes, and mass takings of “personal days” inflict burdens on families, they also result in disruptions in the continuity of instruction, which cause many students to lose focus and fall behind.
Teacher walkouts can easily create a temporary family crisis, as parents scramble to secure a safe place for their children to go to during school hours. Ultimately, many parents can’t take time off from work, forcing them to pay for babysitters—if they can find them.
Do parents have to suck it up and take these hits to their children’s well-being? No, they don’t.
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