With D.C. public school layoffs, difficult to measure winners and losers

October 30, 9:54 AMDC Political Buzz ExaminerLaToya Foster

Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the DC Political Buzz Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee had her say before the D.C. City Council on Thursday, defending her highly scrutinized budget cuts, as well as the layoffs of 400 D.C. Public School employees.

Among the massive layoffs, only six weeks into the school year, were 229 school teachers----prompting protests and backlash from angry teachers, disgruntled parents, and outraged students, who took to the streets to demonstrate their anger.

Immediately, the buck-passing began. Michelle Rhee accuses the city council of budget cuts, council members insist that the budget cuts were not intended to creat layoffs, and union leaders charge that it’s discrimination against older educators.

The setting outside of city hall the day after the layoffs reminds me of a scene from the movie “Lean On Me,” with Morgan Freeman, when all of the students rally to city hall demanding that their principal, be freed from prison, after being arrested for placing chains on the doors to combat crime.

I can still recall the anger of the DC students who protested outside of city hall, defending their teachers, as well as justifying their own fears as young adults preparing for college, depending on the guidance and support of those who were handed their walking papers.

As a product of DC public schools, I recognize that some of the same challenges are lingering from my school days, which is unfathomable. And don’t get me wrong, there are some personnel, who unfortunately are not as productive as they could or should be. But what about the amazing teachers, who I have personally witnessed supplying toilet paper, soap, paper towels, as well as helping disadvantaged students on their meager salaries get perhaps their only decent meal of the day?

At the end of the day, after all of the finger-pointing is over, I beg to ask, is this fight really all about no child being left behind? Who wins and who loses? The outcome---unemployed teachers searching for a job in an unstable economy, and children who are perhaps without the one person who they felt they could depend on.

LaToya Foster is the host of the "Washington Insider."  Learn more about LaToya at www.latoyafostertalks.com