Indiana Teachers Reaching ‘Boiling Point’ On Pay, Education Issues

In recent weeks, there have been teacher walkouts in several states that demand raises for educators.  So far, Indiana teachers don’t have plans to join the growing number.

But Indiana State Teachers Association President, Teresa Meredith, says, the widespread demonstrations are getting people’s attention.

“Most of the calls though are about ‘what are we going to do, and when are we going to do it,’ and so when I ask them why they’re asking the question, the responses vary,” she says.

Union members will meet with the president of West Virginia’s largest teachers’ union this weekend.  West Virginia teachers were the first to host a statewide walkout.

National data shows Indiana teachers have seen some of the largest decreases in teacher pay over the past decade, after adjusting for inflation.

Meredith says a major concern beyond overall pay in the Hoosier state is test scores and their impact on teacher evaluations.  She also says many in the field are reaching the “boiling point” after years of policy and school funding changes from lawmakers.

Overall, Meredith says many in the field feel disrespected after years of policy and school funding changes from lawmakers.

“I think they’re just a boiling point, where we just can’t take much more of the constant churn, and we see how much it’s negatively impacted our students and we want to see something different and better,” she says.

ISTA plans to keep a close eye on legislators as they craft the state – and school funding – budgets next year.