11-02-2025
Educators meet with lawmakers to discuss effects of school vouchers
MEMPHIS, Tenn — A group of teachers went to the State Capitol to meet with lawmakers to talk about vouchers Monday.
Members of the Memphis Shelby County Education Association headed to Nashville to learn all they could about Tennessee's new voucher program.
Among them are Memphis classroom teachers with education issues in mind, including what subjects will be taught to students once they move from public to private school.
Teachers to talk about school voucher law with state leaders
'I'm a Social Studies teacher, so the content of my craft really matters most,' said Mildred Williams. 'Because when you talk about critical race theory, you are talking about eradicating and debasing the history that has been taught.'
Now that vouchers are here these educators want to know the rules and regulations that will come with them.
While the state says public school students who move to private school will still have to take the TCAP and must meet family income guidelines, these teachers want to know what oversight will be done.
'As teachers, we should have some input on what we are teaching our kids,' said Union Representative Dolores Rivers. 'Because when you decide to teach certain things, then a lot of other important issues get left out like Black History and other things that impact our predominantly black district.'
What vouchers could mean for private, public schools
'When you look at what is going on in Memphis and Shelby County, we are out-performing the state at every level,' said Executive Director of MSCEA Keith Williams.
These teachers want assurances, saying vouchers are already taking money from public schools. They want to know what else may be taken.
'It's all about the money -the $2 million budget,' said MSCEA member Rosemary Winters.
The teachers will be meeting with senators all day tomorrow in Nashville. WREG reached out to state lawmakers for more on the voucher guidelines.
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