RICH JAMES: Republicans continue to target Indiana's teachers
Rich James has been writing about state and local government and politics for more than 30 years.
Finally, someone said it.
Finally, someone put in perspective what the Republican coup d’etat of Indiana’s public school system is all about.
And, of course, it was a teacher who said it.
Randi Weingarten, the national president of the American Federation of Teachers, said it at a two-day conference sponsored by Gary Teachers Union Local 4 last week.
“Follow the money,” Weingarten said.
The reference was to former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett changing a low grade given to a charter school whose owner is a top contributor to the Republican Party.
The attack on the state’s public school system began under Bennett and former Gov. Mitch Daniels and continues today under Gov. Mike Pence.
It is a very calculated assault veiled by talk about what’s best for Indiana’s kids. Don’t buy it.
The bottom line is the Bennett/Republican agenda is an effort to grow and benefit charter schools at the expensive of public schools and teachers.
It all started with legislation to decimate the bargaining power of teacher unions. After the Republican-controlled Legislature got done, about all that was left for teachers to negotiate was dessert on the lunch menu.
With teachers virtually powerless, Bennett and company had a free hand in imposing their own