Bernstine: Compel Teachers to Live in Failing School Districts That Employ Them
Jose Nino
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Will teachers in Pennsylvania finally be held accountable for their poorly performing classrooms?
Pennsylvania State Rep. Aaron Bernstine just introduced an amendment to House Bill 1540, which aimed to amend the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), better known as the Public School Code of 1949.
Bernstine’s amendment would mandate all staff in a given school district to live within the school district they work for.
Bernstine went public about his support for this legislation. He was quoted as saying:
Many teachers refuse to live in the poor performing school districts where they work. They do this while their union membership dues are used to keep students trapped in these horrendous schools that they say will be “fixed” with increased funding. PSEA members earn more than three times that of an average Pennsylvanian per work day. Ensuring that PSEA members live in the school district that they teach will increase the tax base and ultimately achieve their goal of increased funding.
Nick Kerin, the State Director of the Pennsylvania State Freedom Caucus commented on the instruction of this amendment:
I think it’s a brilliant idea. I am consistently impressed and excited by the legislative initiatives of our PA Freedom Caucus members. When looking at monumental policy implementations such as expanding educational opportunities for PA’s students, you have to start by changing a broken-down conversation. This amendment does that.
Cliff Maloney, who works with Citizens Alliance of PA (CAP), also commented on the amendment: “Aaron Bernstine just did more to enhance education in Pennsylvania than all of the Democrats combined. His effort exposes the double standard that traps kids in failing schools. As a 2009 graduate of Pennsylvania government schools… I want to thank him for continuing to push for educational freedom that benefits students, not union bosses.”
The amendment can be found here.
Bernstine is one of the principal champions of education reform in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Since being elected to the Pennsylvania State House in 2016, Bernstine has demonstrated his willingness to confront corrupt teacher unions and be a champion for a host of conservative issues ranging from banning minors from attending drag shows to protecting the sanctity of human life.
Union leader Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers did not respond to comment about Bernstine’s effort to expose the radical left’s key talking point against school choice.
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