Quick Summary:
Historically, Republicans have not been supportive of teachers and their salaries, which have stagnated in their states for several decades. This lack of financial investment has come due this year with national headlines of major teacher shortages. Now the Republicans are begging hat-in-hand to the federal government for a quick bail-out, after whining about ‘big government’ and a ‘bloated deficit’.
Now, these same Republicans have their heads in the trough of billions of dollars given to the states by the FEDERAL government for education needs in the CARES Act of March 27, 2020 (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act). The Act allocated 2 trillion dollars for pandemic relief, with an education portion of $30 billion – to be spent by 2024. But with 96% of the CARES Act funding already allocated or spent, what will the unprepared Republicans do when the funds run out in 2024?? When the party is over, staff layoffs and cuts in services!! If there is no stability for new teachers coming out of college – why study for a teaching career? The public be damned.
Full Report Below:
This election year may be a teacher-led backlash against repressive Republicans. 68% of respondents said that education and the public schools was important.
Education Costs and Salaries
Almost all education concerns are politically controlled at the state and local level. Largely by property taxes, sales taxes and income taxes – depending on the state. Historically, Republicans have not been supportive of teachers and their salaries, which have stagnated in their states for several decades. This lack of political investment has come due this year with national headlines of major teacher shortages. Typical lack of political planning until a crisis erupts. Then go begging hat-in-hand to the federal government for a quick bail-out.
Now, the same Republicans that repeatedly scream ‘the evils of big government’ to gain money and votes, have their heads in the trough of billions of dollars given to the states by the FEDERAL government for education needs. The CARES Act of March 27, 2020 (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), allocated 2 trillion dollars for pandemic relief, the education portion of $30 billion to be spent by 2024. The CARES Act was passed with bipartisan support during the Republican Trump administration! So much for Republican hypocritical complaints about ‘big government’ and ‘big spending’.
With the CARES Act money, Republican governments in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Oklahoma and Mississippi have raised teacher salaries. Some have offered additional incentives to gain teachers. Even Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis crowed that his new state budget will include $800 million for higher teacher salaries.
In contrast, the blue states have generally devised more stable education funding over the last several decades. But they have also found that they are facing teacher shortages. The CARES Act money will also assist them as a funding source, if only for a few years.
But with 96% of the CARES Act funding already allocated or spent, what will the unprepared Republicans do when the funds run out in 2024?? There is no indication that these red states are planning ahead for the loss in federal revenue after 2024. Well then, anyone with experience in local education budgets knows what will happen next. When the party is over, staff layoffs and cuts in services!! If there is no stability for new teachers coming out of college – why study for a teaching career?
Covid and Liberal Education Mandates
This year, Republicans have been trying to ‘weaponize’ liberal classroom teaching on critical race theory, sexuality and gender identity. Parents have made it clear that they do not want their children educated in a toxic culture battleground. Almost two-thirds polled do not approve of the liberal, or ‘woke’, cultural agenda of race and gender identity being forced upon their children.
60% said they were totally dissatisfied with the way their children were taught about race. 58% said they were dissatisfied with the way they are taught about sexual preference and identity. [Hart 6a]
Percent of people were more likely vote for a Republican candidate, if: 57% of voters said that ‘public schools should focus less on teaching students about race and racism, and more on core academic subjects’. 52% said ‘schools should stop teaching young children that people can have more than one gender or no gender’. 51% said that ‘schools should not teach students that they have special advantages due to their race or ethnic background’. [Hart 12]
Percent of people who were more likely to vote for a Democratic candidate, if: 50% of voters, ‘Believes the school curriculum should represent and respect the experiences of students of color.’ 50% of voters, ‘Favors teaching students an anti-racist curriculum that builds on the varying cultures of students and their families.’ And 43% of voter, ‘Believes that schools should provide students with age appropriate instruction on gender and transgender issues.’ [Hart 13]
The Hart poll is quite extensive and informative at 24 pages, but has not been updated for the November, 2022, election that we can find.
HART RESEARCH ASSOCIATES May 2022 |
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| #12. Now you will see some specific things you might learn about a Republican candidate this year. For each one, please indicate whether that position would make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate. | More Likely | Less Likely | Diff |
| Believes public schools should focus less on teaching students about race and racism, and more on core academic subjects. | 57 | 25 | +32 |
| Believes parents should have the option to decide whether their child receives instruction on gender and transgender issues. | 54 | 25 | +29 |
| Favors legislation to prevent transgender students who were born as males from competing in girls’ athletics. | 54 | 26 | +28 |
| Says that schools should stop teaching young children that people can have more than one gender or no gender. | 52 | 39 | +22 |
| Believes schools should not teach students that they have special advantages due to their race or ethnic background. | 51 | 28 | +25 |
| Says schools must stop “grooming” students by encouraging them to question their gender identity or sexual preference | 51 | 30 | +22 |
| #13. Now you will see some specific things you might learn about a Democratic candidate this year. For each one, please indicate whether that position would make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate. | |||
| Believes the school curriculum should represent and respect the experiences of students of color. | 50 | 20 | +29 |
| Favors teaching students an anti-racist curriculum that builds on the varying cultures of students and their families. | 50 | 24 | +26 |
| Believes that schools should provide students with age appropriate instruction on gender and transgender issues. | 43 | 34 | +9 |
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