Demos In Two US States Seeking More Public School Funding

Teachers took to the streets of Kentucky and Oklahoma on Monday, with thousands rallying in the latest shows of force by angry educators demanding better pay and more funding for public schools.

Chicago, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Apr, 2018 ) :Teachers took to the streets of Kentucky and Oklahoma on Monday, with thousands rallying in the latest shows of force by angry educators demanding better pay and more funding for public schools.

Classrooms were shuttered as demonstrations commenced. In some cases, school districts were on a scheduled holiday, while in others administrators were unable to find enough substitutes to keep doors open.

Some school districts that were scheduled to be in session reportedly expected to be closed for much, if not all, of the week. The protests were the latest instance of public school teachers flexing their political muscle, inspired by a nine-day strike in March that won West Virginia's teachers their first pay raise in four years.

Organizers expected some 30,000 educators to demonstrate in Oklahoma City. Such numbers would make it the biggest demonstration recorded in the Midwestern state's capital, The Oklahoman newspaper reported.

Oklahoma City Public Schools said its campuses would be closed through Tuesday, and a number of other public school districts planned to close for longer, according to The Oklahoman. Thousands of teachers were estimated to be at the Kentucky state capital Frankfort.

The Courier-Journal newspaper said that all 120 public school districts in that state also were closed. Most were on their Spring break vacation. Kentucky teachers were primarily protesting proposed cuts to pension benefits and demanding more funding for public education.