NORFOLK, Va. — Teachers in Norfolk are bringing attention to safety, budget and respect within the city’s public schools with a strike and community-wide protest.
In a flyer encouraging students and teachers to stay home from school on Monday, organizers express their goal to advocate on behalf of Norfolk’s schools by exercising their constitutional right to protest.
"Our schools need transparency and accountability to protect teachers, staff, and students from mistreatment and retaliation,” the flyer states. “We support laws that ensure school employees can report issues safely, with independent investigations and whistleblower protections to hold leadership accountable."
In addition to staying home on Monday, educators broadened their efforts with a “peaceful community protest,” inviting Norfolk residents to gather at the Central Administration building on Monday at 3 p.m.
"Join us in pushing for policies that protect teachers' rights and ensure school leaders are accountable, so our schools are safe, respectful places for both students and staff," the flyer reads.
State law prohibits public employees, and thus teachers, from striking. Teachers can be terminated and barred from working for the Commonwealth for 12 months after participating in collective bargaining efforts.
However, A recent study done by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that teacher strikes improved educators’ pay, working conditions and productivity, and did not have a significant negative impact on students' learning and achievement.
