Politicians exploiting teachers' plight

I haven't seen so much demagoguery since George Wallace was running for president by calling out "pointy-headed liberals."

I'm talking about all the so-called defenders of Philadelphia teachers who are decrying the School Reform Commission's decision to make teachers help pay for their health insurance.

There's nothing wrong with that. Most American workers became accustomed to paying part of their insurance premiums, as well as co-pays for doctors' visits, a long time ago. Now, how the SRC did the deed is disturbing – with little warning to the teachers' union – and by voiding its expired contract.

But it is not asking too much for teachers to help pay for their health insurance. Not even teachers as overworked and put-upon as Philadelphia's, who often work in violent environments. Their wages may not be as good as some of their counterparts in the city's tony suburbs, but they are good wages.

And if the School District can ever get beyond begging for cash just to get through the school year, maybe teachers can get a new contract that provides pay incentives for the extraordinary work they do in very trying circumstances.

That's possible, but only if the demagogues stop playing politics in their quest for teachers' union support. Instead, let's see some leadership that helps everyone dedicated to seeing Philadelphia's schoolchildren get a good education come together for that just cause.

Harold Jackson