CoMo Electric panel on public education, living wages and right to work draws overflow crowd

Missouri State Rep. David Wood
Missouri State Rep. David Wood

TIPTON, Mo. - A panel discussion on public education, living wages and right to work drew an overflow crowd Feb. 2 at the CoMo Electric meeting room.

The panelist were: Peggy Cochran, Missouri National Education Association (retired), Rep. David Wood, 58th District, and Billy Moffett, Communications Workers of America.

The program opened with Cochran and Wood speaking to the funding of public education in Missouri, it was pointed out that education in the State has been underfunded since 2005 and there may be indications that this could continue. Both panelist SAID money directed toward a voucher system to pay for private and parochial schools was a bad idea. There was also difference over the value of the way current charter schools are operating. Cochran questioned how the governor can talk about tax cuts when there is a need to increase funding for education.

They moved into talking about the Missouri's teacher pension system as an important benefit which has been under attack. Cochran and Wood pointed out how the retirement plan is a factor that keeps teachers in our state, given teacher pay in Missouri is one of the lowest in the nation.

Teacher tenure was also a subject of discussion. It was pointed out by the panelist that an effort to eliminate it continues. Cochran said the word "tenure" is really misunderstood. The system calls for a teacher to be on probation for five years. During this period of time, a teacher can be dismissed without showing a cause. After five years, cause for dismissal must be shown before a teacher can be removed. A number of years ago, the group wanting tenure elimination did get the issue on the ballot and it was voted down by over 70 percent.

The second half of the panel discussion dealt with right to work and a living wage. Earlier in the day, the right to work law had passed in the General Assembly. Moffett expressed disappointment over right to work passing, saying it would weaken unions and reduce the wages paid to workers. He pointed out a number of states have passed right to work laws, and they have seen reduction in wages by thousands of dollars. But Wood said he voted for it because the voters in his district were in favor of the right to work law at ratio of 2-1. If it had been the other way around, he would have voted against it, he said.

At the end of the panel discussion, there was a spirited question and answer period that went overtime. Members of a civic class from Versailles High School attended to watch democracy in action. The event was sponsored by the Moniteau County Democrat Club.