Major Kansas Papers Ignore Koch Connection to Anti-Teachers’ Rights Legislation
Three major newspapers in Kansas have ignored the role of funding from the Koch brothers in the passage of legislation that strips teachers in the state of their right to due process before they are fired, a longstanding right that gives teachers the ability to challenge dismissals.
Kansas State Legislature Passes Bill Stripping Teachers' Right To Due Process
MSNBC.com: "Kansas Bill Kills Long-Held Teacher Rights." Following a heated debate, the Kansas State Legislature passed a bill, HB2506, on Sunday, April 6, that "kills long-held teacher rights" to due process. According to MSNBC.com, the bill passed "over the objections of hundreds of teachers and activists" protesting the bill (emphasis added):
Despite huge majorities in the state House and Senate, the bills passed narrowly over the objections of hundreds of teachers and activists who packed the galleries to protest the bill.Until now, a teacher with three years of experience was guaranteed the right to receive a written reason for possible termination and the right to appeal the decision. Teachers in Kansas have had the right to due process since 1957. Without it, a teacher could be fired for being gay, or disagreeing politically with an administrator, and have no recourse. [MSNBC.com, 4/7/14]
Legislation Was Pushed By Group Connected To Billionaire Koch Brothers
Washington Post's Valerie Strauss: Group Pushing Legislation Backed By "Extreme Conservative Billionaires Charles And David Koch." Washington Post education blogger Valerie Strauss, citing an Associated Press story, noted how teachers' rights "go away" under the new legislation, as well as the Koch funding tied to Americans for Prosperity, the group pushing the bill:
According to this Associated Press story, Kansas teachers who have been on the job for at least three years have certain rights when they are being fired. They must be told in writing why the action was taken and they have the right to request a review of the decision. Under the new law, those rights go away.Pushing the effort to end teacher tenure, the AP reported, was aMajor Kansas Papers Ignore Koch Connection to Anti-Teachers’ Rights Legislation | NationofChange: