Tennessee Teachers Respond To Commissioner’s Suggestion To Outsource Jobs

Photo Credit: tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

Tennessee educators are sounding off after state education leaders discussed the possibility of permitting school districts to outsource some of their teaching jobs.

Newly released audio from a February 3rd Education Steering Committee meeting has Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn stating that private companies could step in to fill teaching roles.

A committee member posted the question, “So they wouldn’t necessarily have to employ an art teacher, they could provide the art curriculum by partnering with a third party?”

“That’s 100% accurate. It’s a funding plan, not a spending plan,” Schwinn responded.

Teachers are outraged at the idea that they could be replaced by an outside source after putting in the time and effort to meet the requirements of earning a teaching license in Tennessee.

“The idea that just anybody could step in, off the street and do what educators do is quite frankly – it is insulting, it is disrespectful, and it’s one reason that we’re seeing educators so demoralized and thinking about leaving the profession,” said Tennessee Education Association President Beth Brown. 

“We make such a difference for our students, and it’s really hard when you know that people are making decisions for us that don’t ever step into a classroom,” said one Tennessee music teacher.

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They also caution Governor Lee and Commissioner Schwinn against moving too quickly to reform school funding. Teachers say the state should be looking to retain the current teacher pool instead of looking to outsource those jobs.

“We have to slow down and get it right,” Brown stated.

She continued, “How can we make people want to enter this profession and stay in the profession so that we don’t have any sort of shortage issues, but two, how can we support the schools right now with providing the resources they need? Let’s not talk about outsourcing as the solution, let’s get to the heart of the problem and address that.”

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The Tennessee Department of Education says that the released conversation was in response to a question about how local school systems can provide certain services to students, and they reiterated that hiring decisions are all made by the local school districts.

Governor Lee’s budget proposal is expected next week, and educators anticipate more information on this at that time.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com

One thought on “Tennessee Teachers Respond To Commissioner’s Suggestion To Outsource Jobs

  • February 9, 2022 at 7:18 pm
    Permalink

    Remember “Common Core” and all the “Garbage” that went with it,

    The stink of that garbage has rubbed off on the “Teaching Profession” until a large portion of Parents don’t believe teachers are teaching what should be taught and the way it should be taught.

    Can’t really blame the Teachers, they don’t make the rules, but like the train, they get the blame when it jumps the track.

    And the direction of “Teaching” is certainly “off track” of what it should be.

    Reply

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