by Ed Klein, Peoria, IL

Jim Hightower in his newsletter, “Hightower Lowdown,” writes glowingly of his public school teachers who spurred, inspired, lured, intrigued, goaded and otherwise motivated him to do more than he might otherwise have done. His teachers, he said, largely sparked his lifelong interests in language, history, politics, and how and for whom, government really works. Having said that, he concluded ironically that “I was naïve about their motivation. Little did I know at the time that their ilk are tax-sucking leeches, glorified baby sitters, overpaid slugs who leave work at 3:00 p.m. and take the whole summer off.” New Jersey Governor Christie referred to the teachers in his state as “greedy.”

Christie is not alone. In state after state similar attitudes about public service employees are being expressed. The reason, as one can easily conclude, is that cost-cutting measures are being considered and by demonizing teachers and other public service employees, such treatment is deserved. That makes it easy to cut their wages, fire them, slash their benefits and load extra unpaid work on the backs of those lucky enough to keep their jobs.

How often have you heard it said – by politicians and others that “America’s future lies in the youth of today?” Those mouthing such sentiments apparently enjoy hearing such noble sentiments falling from their lips as they attempt to impress us with their concern for the future of our country. If they were sincere we would applaud them for their dedication for the youth of America. But alas, sincerity is not in the lexicon of many wielding power today.

America is at war against its own teachers. A harsh statement? Then check out this example. Florida teachers are already among the lowest paid in the country. In spite of that, Governor Scott is pushing a bill requiring them to reapply for their jobs every year with renewal of their contracts depending on how well students perform on a single standardized test. The bill would force more teaching-to-the-test and less classroom innovation, setting up even good teachers for failure, and making teaching a less desirable profession when more and better teachers are desperately needed.

Governor Rick Perry, down Texas way, ran up a $27 billion deficit. Wonder who he proposes to bear a big part of the burden in cutting that deficit? You guessed it. Among the middle class and poor, there are at least 100,000 school teachers now getting “excessed” notices. Perry’s budget chops current school spending by nearly $8 billion, even as student enrollment soars. Teachers and kids must absorb the shortfall, the governor says because he can’t bear to hike the meager taxes of corporations and the rich.

Florida and Texas are not the only ones taking steps to “cut the teaching profession down to size.” Many city and county school districts are also getting in step. I mentioned how Florida teachers may soon have to reapply for their jobs at the beginning of each school year. Didn’t I read in the Peoria Journal Star recently where School Board 150 is doing something like that to teachers here?

So, whenever you hear those noble words, “America’s future depends on the youth of today,” be sure you check to see who’s uttering them. Noble sentiments are all too often spoken by the ignoble who, to put it in the vernacular, don’t know what der teufel they’re talking about and often don’t care.