Mississippi teacher group eyeing protest asks about walkout
JACKSON -- One of Mississippi's statewide teacher organizations asked supporters Thursday if they're interested in protests over teacher pay and Republican education policies, even asking about an indefinite "walkout."
The Mississippi Association of Educators, the state affiliate of the National Education Association, posted the survey Thursday online. President Joyce Helmick said the organization has heard strongly from teachers since the 2019 regular session of the Legislature adjourned that they're angry over lawmakers' decision to provide only a $1,500 raise to teachers beginning July 1. Helmick said teachers were also angered because Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves pushed lawmakers to spend $2 million more to subsidize private school tuition for special education students, with many lawmakers not discovering the spending until after they voted to pass the bill.
"The educators and the citizens are really upset," Helmick said. "You can tell they're upset and they're calling for action."
The survey asks about support for possible actions including a rally at the state Capitol on a Saturday, after-work picketing, campaigning for candidates, and boycotting business that donate to "anti-public education candidates." The survey also asks about a one-day sickout and whether teachers could "walkout on a specific day and refuse to return for an indefinite amount of time." Helmick said that's a synonym for a strike.
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