LEONARDTOWN, Md. (AP) — Teachers in St. Mary’s County plan to eliminate extra work outside of classroom hours as part of a protest over lagging pay scales.

The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/VhSPVe ) that teachers will not give homework, volunteer for extracurricular activities or contact parents after school hours as part of what is being called a “back to basics” job protest.

Classes in St. Mary’s County begin next week.

Anna Laughlin, president of the Education Association of St. Mary’s County, said she expects about 80 percent of the county’s 1,300 teachers to participate in the protest.

The district serves nearly 18,000 students.

The teachers’ union says pay scales lag behind Calvert County and other neighboring jurisdictions.

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Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

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