Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 5 april 2018

As Oklahoma teachers strike drags on, frustration mounts

straight days seeking more
money for the classrooms.
That has proved frustrat-
ing for some GOP lead-
ers, especially those who
broke with party orthodoxy
to raise taxes to pay for
teacher raises.
Republican Gov. Mary Fal-
lin on Wednesday called
on the teachers to return
to classrooms. In one inter-
view Tuesday, she likened
striking teachers to "a teen-
age kid that wants a better
car."
"That was kind of a slap in
the face," said Donita Go-
forth, an elementary art
teacher from Grove, Okla-
homa, who drove three-
and-a-half hours to rally at
the Capitol on Wednesday.
Rep. Earl Sears, a Republi-
can from Bartlesville and a
retired school administra-
tor, said he voted for the tax
hike and supports teachers'
Teachers from Apollo elementary school in the Putnam City school district of Oklahoma City, wave signs at passing cars outside the efforts, but acknowledged
state Capitol as protests over school funding continue for the third day in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
Associated Press they run the risk of losing
public support the longer
that schools remain closed.
By SEAN MURPHY a tough question as the she's standing behind the Even within the teachers' "I think there were some
Associated Press walkout threatens to keep teachers. own ranks, there are divi- members who felt if we
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — many schools closed for the "It's been a hassle, that's for sions. passed this, everything will
When Oklahoma Republi- rest of the week — do they sure," said Hardwick, who Ginger Tinney, the execu- be fine and everybody will
cans finally passed a mas- risk losing public support for said she may have to take tive director of the Profes- move on," Sears said, "but
sive tax hike for hundreds their efforts, especially after a day off work without pay. sional Oklahoma Educators it's really kind of unlocked a
of millions of new dollars for lawmakers handed them "But if it's going to better my which represents about lot of emotions."
public schools and teacher much of what they asked child's future ... I think I can 12,000 teachers, said she Teachers now are push-
pay raises, they thought for? handle missing a few days believes public support ing lawmakers to pass sev-
they would get a thank "There's always that con- of work." for teachers will wane if eral more revenue raising
you. cern, but our parents are Still, some question why schools remain closed. measures, including one
Instead, educators and just as frustrated as we are," teachers are continuing "Our students need their that eliminates the income
their supporters marched said Amy Radtke, a high- to stay off the job after teachers," Tinney said. "I tax deduction for capital
on the Capitol. school science teacher lawmakers approved new think the public is with us, gains that would generate
They brought pent-up with from Norman, a college money for schools and rais- but it could erode the lon- about $120 million annual-
them frustration after years town about 20 miles south es. ger it goes." ly. Another to expand trib-
of budget cuts, swelling of the Capitol in Oklahoma Preston Leehan, a construc- Many teachers already are al gaming would bring in
class sizes and a decade City, where schools will re- tion worker who was survey- back at work, especially in about $20 million, but both
without a raise. main closed for the rest of ing gas lines Wednesday in rural communities where of those measures face
Their protests, and some the week. Oklahoma City, said the local boards didn't vote to broad GOP opposition.
school closures, will contin- Ashleigh Hardwick, a single $6,000-per-year raise that shut down. It's still not clear if the pas-
ue for a fourth straight day mom whose daughter at- teachers received sounds Still, schools in the state's sage of those measures,
Thursday amid a move- tends elementary school like a pretty good deal for largest districts remain shut- or another to require cer-
ment in red states from in Norman, said she's had a public-sector employee. tered, including Oklahoma tain online vendors to pay
West Virginia to Kentucky to rely on friends and fam- "I don't know of police or City, Tulsa and many subur- sales tax, will be enough
to Arizona to press for more ily to watch her daughter firefighters who strike af- ban communities. to placate teachers and
money in classrooms. while she works at a local ter they get a $6,000 pay Thousands have thronged get them to return to the
Now these teachers face florist shop, but that so far raise," Leehan said. the Capitol for three classroom.q