FAST FACTS:


 

• Dozens of teachers assistants show up at Memphis City School to protest layoffs
• Board member got a second on his resolution to reinstate corporal punishment
• The issue will be discussed at next work session

(Memphis 6/21/2010) Kenneth Whalum got quite a surprise at Monday night's Memphis City School Board meeting. Sharon Web seconded his resolution to reinstate corporal punishment.

That means the issue will be discussed during the July 12th work session, though many board members don't support spankings.

Though Whalum won attempts to open a dialogue on corporal punishment most of the meeting's focus was on the hundreds of teachers assistant jobs, slashed in May.

Armed with protest signs, dozens of fired teachers assistants fired back at the Memphis City School board and Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash for cutting their jobs.

"Our kids are paying the price for your political maneuvering," explained fired assistant Phyllis Blakely.

MCS fired Blakely and 300 other part time teachers assistants to slash $47 million from the budget.

A move that pushed board member Kenneth Whalum to draft a resolution urging the superintendent to rehire the jobs cut last month.

"According to teachers, they are the lifeblood to succeed in the classroom especially with the removal of corporal punishment," explained Whalum.

Though 300 of nearly 780 TA jobs were cut, Dr. Cash says there's been a big misunderstanding about the impact the cuts will have on classes.

That's because there will still be assistants in the classroom. All teachers assistants will now be full time. District officials say they'll use federal money to fund the full time assistant positions for grades K-3.