COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina State House turned a shade of red on Wednesday as teachers and supporters from the group SCforEd met for their second annual lobby day.
The lobby day was held so teachers and supporters could urge lawmakers to enact reforms they feel more accurately reflect the needs of classrooms and teachers across the state.
York County teacher Katie Harris was one of those teachers.
“Because, I’m very passionate about this job and hearing that teachers are leaving and hearing that teachers can't afford to pay their bills, that, that gets me very upset because I do believe we need good teachers,” Harris said when asked why she made the drive on Wednesday.
SCforEd's agenda items included many items they felt lawmakers should focus on:
- Increase salaries 5 percent and create step raises through year 28
- Create a teachers’ freedom of speech act
- Reduce testing
- Redefine and restructure the education oversight committee
- Limit class size
- Transform the Read to Succeed Act
- Provide more teacher workdays
- Modify uniform school year start date
Some of those reforms in other versions in the current Senate bill and other budget proposals.
For example, Governor Henry McMaster proposed a $3,000 raise for every teacher this year. The proposal has bipartisan support.
In fact, on Wednesday, Democratic Senator Dick Harpootlian said he would push for a larger increase than the Governor's proposal.
Senators also argue their bill reduces testing, eliminating a state required social studies test. However, teachers say other sections of the bill add more mandated reading assessments.
A class size limit, a contentious sticking point for both sides dating back to last year, was included in last year's budget, but is not included in the current Senate bill proposal.
Harris was making the rounds talking to lawmakers about some of those issues and others.
“It is frustrating because I know there's a level of politics in it, but I feel personally that I'm going to say it regardless of how it is responded,” Harris said.
York County Representative Raye Felder, Republican, said she heard similar concerns from several teachers.
“I think another thing that I keep hearing from teachers throughout our state is they want time to do their job within their workday. They don't want to have to take work home, they don't want to work two and three jobs to pay the bills. They want to be well respected for the profession they went to school for,” Felder said.
Harris told WLTX she works two additional jobs and said she'll continue to push for a percentage raise increase.
The more than 60-page senate version of the education bill is in its third week of intense debate amongst Senators. It is unpopular with the teacher group, SCforED. In fact, at their meeting at the State House Wednesday morning they said it needed to, 'Die a tragic quick death.'
Senate Education Bill adds first approved amendment
The South Carolina Senate approved an amendment which could give some college students more money.
The proposed amendment is now officially a part of the senate's education bill, still facing debate in the chamber.
The amendment would give an additional $2,500 or $3,300 to students using LIFE and Palmetto scholarships, respectively, whom go into education majors.
Currently, only math and science majors get the bonus.
Senator Nikki Setzler said it shows a commitment to recruiting.
“It shows the importance of education in this state number one. It also addresses, helps address, the retention and recruitment issue of teachers in the classroom in South Carolina. So, it's extremely important, it has tremendous support across the state,” Setzler said, making sure to add it did not receive any nae votes.
The amendment was co-sponsored by Senator Greg Hembree.
“In a bipartisan effort, the Senate approved an amendment this afternoon to include education majors as those eligible for scholarship enhancements if recipients qualify for the Palmetto and LIFE scholarships. This significant expansion recognizes the importance of teachers to our state and helps to attract our best and brightest to the profession of education. This is just one of the many positive elements in the current version of S.419,” Hembree said.
Senators are expected to debate the education bill for at least another week or so.