While teachers across North Carolina prepare for a Nov. 4 walkout in response to poor working conditions and pay, other educator groups are opposing the walkout strategy altogether.
The walkout was originally assembled online to challenge recent bills that eliminated pay raises, tenure and created reductions in educational funding.
Because North Carolina is a right-to-work state, the law prohibits public employee strikes.
North Carolina teachers participating in the walkout are prompted to take a sick or personal day to raise awareness for these issues.
However, many educators have vocalized their opposition to the walkout and possible alternative strategies. The Wake County chapter of the North Carolina Educators Association, Iredell-Statesville Schools and the Charlotte-based Classroom Teachers Association have all opposed the walkout and are instead encouraging teachers to take part in a walk-in.
The statewide walk-in invites community members to visit and volunteer at local schools Nov. 4 to learn more about the work with which teachers are involved.
With so many protests against the walkout, some teachers feel as though they do not have much support.
Albert Zay, who has taught for 15 years, is employed at Brunswick High School Early College in Bolivia, N.C. His wife is also a teacher in Bolivia.
In planning to participate in the Nov. 4, walkout, he is one of many who must accept the lack of support from NCAE.
“As a member of NCAE…I do understand that they cannot endorse it. That’s fine with me,” Zay said.
Zay, like other participants in the walkout, said he struggles to understand NCAE’s rationale for protesting against the walkout.
“Who are they going to protest, if not the teachers?” Zay said. “Is the protest slated for after school hours so that we can teach and then go protest? I appreciate their efforts but they have been fruitless and fallen on deaf ears.”
Michael Maher, N.C. State’s Assistant Dean for Professional Education, said that while some teachers have valid reasons for walking out, others face negative feedback from the general public.
“If I were a teacher, I would likely not be walking out because I would want the public to support me,” Maher said. “And I think that this does the opposite by walking out. [Teachers participating in the walkout] are going to erode some of the public support for teachers.”
Maher said that by walking out, some teachers are sending the wrong message.
“They want to show that they care about kids,” Maher said. “That’s the nature of their work. By walking out, it almost gives the impression that they are walking out on the kids.”
Conversely, instead of standing behind the walkout, opposing educator groups continue to encourage an educational walk-in.
Iredell-Statesville School Superintendent Brady Johnson, who spoke with The Charlotte Observer earlier this week, agrees that there is a way to support teachers without such drastic measures as a walkout.
“We certainly respect what those other teachers are trying to do and the message they’re trying to convey,” Johnson said. “But there’s a better way to do it. Why should our teachers have to stand alone and fight for better working conditions and additional resources for their students? We should all stand united behind our schools and our teachers.”
One alternative strategy is the Wear Red for Education campaign, which encourages parents, students and teachers to wear red in honor of teachers everywhere.
“I’ve been wearing red. My wife’s principal has reminded his entire staff to do it every week,” Zay said.
Also, NCAE President Rodney Ellis has also proposed that schools utilize American Education Week, starting Nov. 18, to educate North Carolina communities about the issues surrounding the teaching profession.
Mike Ladidadi, a Wilmington real estate agent, launched the idea for the walkout through an event page that he created on Facebook.
As of press time, 627 people had registered on the page.
