By Miriam Oh
Utah U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch and his rally on education is giving educators a reason to applaud his efforts.
In a statement on education, Hatch highlighted Utah''s concerns on educational issues and recognized the responsibility of the federal government to support state education programs.
'I take education issues very seriously,' Hatch said. 'I have played a major role in every education bill that has been debated before the Congress. I believe federal funding to support state and local education should be a high priority, but more effective use of funds should be a high priority as well.'
In the hollow of proposed educational bills, Hatch most recently introduced a bill that would directly benefit teachers and the personal costs inherent to a teacher''s profession.
The Tax Equity for School Teachers Act or 'TEST Act,' is what Hatch said recognizes the 'difficult and thankless jobs' teacher''s have. He also credited the measure to be a remedy for what Hatch calls 'tax abuse of teachers.'
Shannon Hall is a first-grade teacher at Brockbank Elementary School in Spanish Fork. Hall said Utah teachers receive $250 a year for in-class expenses, but believes that the meager amount does not cover the $50 bare minimum she spends on erasers, pencils and books for her students.
'Teachers spend $1,400 to $2,400 in a year with salaries that are pathetic,' said Carol Lear, coordinator for school law and legislation for the Utah State Office of Education.
Referring to out-of-pocket expenditures that teachers fritter away on classroom supplies and teacher enhancement programs, Lear said teachers should not be the exception when it comes to funding for their jobs.
'IBM would never expect their employees to buy their own paper and set up their own cubicles,' she said.
Although Hatch''s proposal will not solve education''s financial woes, TEST will give educator''s a tax break on their expenses, Hatch''s office said.
Hatch''s proposal allows teachers to deduct the cost of professional development courses and out-of-pocket classroom supplies on their federal taxes.
Hatch''s educational foothold rests on an increase in federal funding to support state and local efforts to front the costs of quality education.
President Bush''s tax package provides teachers a similar deduction of up to $400 for out-of-pocket expenses. But Hatch''s bill proposes an unlimited deduction that would allow teachers to deduct in full any such expenses whether itemized or not.
'There is no reason why teachers should foot the bill for classroom expenses,' Hatch said in a statement on education. 'It is a crime that teachers have to pay out of their own pocket to make sure their students have the proper materials.'
Utah ranks first in the nation in terms of class size and last in per pupil expenditures. Utah has the highest birth rate in the nation and Utah families on average, are larger than any other state, according to information from Hatch''s office.