During the last legislative session, educators across the state took action to defend public schools and Kentucky public school students. During his term as governor, Bevin has taken every opportunity to vilify and persecute educators for their advocacy and activism. He called educators thugs and accused them of being responsible for shootings, drug use and sexual assault of children. Kentuckians know better than to listen to his unfounded attacks. The announcement made today by the Bevin administration is yet another scare tactic to try to intimidate educators and public education supporters from having their voices heard in Frankfort.
Public school is back in session now, and every educator is giving their best to provide a quality education to our kids. It’s unfortunate that Governor Bevin, through his appointee at the Labor Cabinet, decided to issue this veiled threat against educators who dared to exercise their democratic right to be heard by their government. We encourage Bevin’s Labor Cabinet to focus its energy on supporting Kentucky’s working men and women -- like our hard working coal miners still waiting for a paycheck -- rather than conducting political witch hunts against educators.