Ore. Educators Facing Showdown Over Ballot Initiatives

By Karla Scoon Reid

Oregon voters are considering several ballot measures this November that education leaders in the state say would seriously damage public schools. Taken together, they say, the proposals would trigger severe school budget cuts, weaken the voice of teachers' unions, and foster intolerance in the classroom.

"This is truly the most horrific onslaught we have ever seen," said Kathryn Firestone, the president of the Oregon PTA. "Our kids are going to get squashed."

But that's not what...