(CNN) – The battered economy is devastating school districts nationwide. Faced with shrinking budgets, many schools say they have no choice but to lay off teachers.
In fact, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan warns that we are on the brink of an "education catastrophe." The latest example of our schools in crisis can be seen in Illinois, where yesterday thousands rallied at the state capitol to protest deep cuts.
Dan Montgomery, an English teacher in Skokie, Illinois was at yesterday's rally. He joined us on Thursday's American Morning, along with Lindsey Burke, a former teacher and education policy analyst.