An editorial from The Exponent Telegram
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Sometimes you just have to shake your head in wonderment.
On Thursday, state senators advanced House Bill 2381, which will provide $2,000 pay raises to nationally certified teachers who teach at low performing schools and provide mentorship to other teachers.
The bill is so narrowly written, we wonder just how many teachers it will affect. And for some lawmakers to call it a “teacher pay raise bill” is simply smoke and mirrors — and nothing else.
Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, attempted to provide pay raises for all teachers through an amendment to another bill, but the effort failed along party lines, with 18 Republicans voting against and 15 Democrats voting in favor.
“We need to make sure that we have qualified, certified teachers in the classroom,” Minority Whip John Unger, D-Berkeley, said. “We need to start treating our teachers as professionals by compensating them accordingly and getting out of their way and letting them teach.”
Kessler was even more direct…