Kasich: If I Were King, I’d Ban Teachers’ Lounges So They Can’t Complain

Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, speaks during an education summit, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Londonderry, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) on Wednesday said that he would like to get rid of teachers’ lounges to reduce how much teachers worry about losing their jobs.

Kasich said at an education summit in New Hampshire that many teachers believe that “we’re out to take their job” when schools evaluate teacher performance and that teachers’ lounges provide an environment where this worry spreads.

“No we’re not out to take their job. If you need help, we’ll help you. If you’re a terrible teacher, then you should be doing something else because you’re going to find more satisfaction doing something else that you’re good at,” he said. “We have to constantly communicate that.”

He then suggested that teachers’ unions contribute to educators’ worries.

“I’ll tell you what the unions do, unfortunately too much of the time. There’s a constant negative comment, ‘They’re going to take your benefits, they’re going to take your pay,'” Kasich said. “So if I were, not president, but if I were king in America, I would abolish all teachers’ lounges, where they sit together and worry about, ‘Woe is us.'”

Watch video of Kasich’s comments below:

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