According to those who were there, about 1,000 parents, educators, and other citizens packed the statehouse in Indianapolis to let the Governor and Legislature know that they support State Superintendent Glenda Ritz, and they don’t want their 1.3 million votes for her to be nullified by petty politics.
Here is a video and text from the Indiana Coalition for Public Education.
Here is Cathy Fuentes Rohwer speaking to the crowd in a riotous speech that had everyone cheering. Cathy wrote a passionate letter that ran on this blog. Cathy said what every teacher and parent knows: “My child is not college-and-career-ready because he is a child!” She also said: “Standards don’t educate children, teachers do!”
Here is the text of her great speech. “We can’t afford a three-tiered system of charters, vouchers, and public. We tried segregation and it didn’t work.”
Here is the video of Phyllis Bush’s wonderful speech.
And if you want even more, here are articles about the rally:
http://in.chalkbeat.org/2015/02/16/photos-ritz-supporters-rally-at-statehouse/#.VOj8jkK4mCR
http://www.journalgazette.net/…/Disdain-shown-for-Repub…
http://thestatehousefile.com/supporters-rally-superintendent-ritz-public-education/20256/
http://www.wthr.com/story/28117025/statehouse-rally-today-to-support-superintendent-ritz
http://www.idsnews.com/article/2015/02/rally-for-ritz-to-take-place-in-indy-today
http://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/rally-for-ritz-packs-the-statehouse
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The Rally for Ritz was for us to express our dissatisfaction with the bills before the legislature meant to strip the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, of some of her power and responsibilities, which will be placed in the hands of the State Board of Education made up of the governor’s appointees. The day after the rally the legislature did just that.
And a week later the Governor, and members of the school board — who were nowhere to be found during the Rally for Ritz — lavished time, attention, and praise to the several dozen citizens and students who attended the “Choice” rally.
Because Indiana’s educationally deficit ‘leaders’ believe business people would be better at running schools no educational studies nor experience is needed to be a superintendent. This law was passed:
Repeals the requirement for a school superintendent to have at least 5 years of experience as a teacher in a public school (Sec. 2).
Repeals the requirement for a school superintendent to hold a teacher’s or superintendent’s license (Secs. 2 & 5).
Requires a school superintendent to have obtained at least a master’s degree from an accredited postsecondary educational institution (Sec. 5).
Authorizes the dismissal of an unlicensed superintendent under the following circumstances (Sec. 7):
Immorality
Misconduct in office
Incompetency; or
Willful neglect of duty.
I attended the rally in Indianapolis. I called and sent protest letters to my state Representative Hal Slager regarding how elected Democratic Superintendent of Education Glenda Ritz was being treated by our legislature. The State Board of Education is appointed.
Here is part of his reply back to me:
“The way that the Chairperson of the Indiana State Board of Education was previously selected was a process that needed to be updated. After thinking through all possible outcomes of this legislation, I can confidently say that with the passage of this bill from the House, we are taking a step in the right direction toward a more efficient and productive State Board of Education that will ultimately benefit our children in a positive way..”
Congratulations, Hoosiers!
Now keep the pressure on them.
The most gigantic unmentioned problem not addressed………and, my God, that was a great speech………we are getting massive reporting of pos Giuliani’s nonsense about whether Obama loves his country………AND ABSOLUTELY ZERO FROM DEMOCRATS LIKE HILLARY CLINTON, CLAIRE MCCASKILL, AND OTHERS TO EVEN PRETEND THESE PEOPLE EXIST. Has any publication had a reporter pressing presumed nothing can go wrong nominee Clinton anything—about challenging the reform movement? Democrats make me madder than republicans……at least the gop spews the garbage they believe in…..DEMOCRATS ARE AFRAID TO PRETEND IT MATTERS.
Indiana University funds the Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Partners at the “Leadership” level, one of the highest levels identified by the Chamber.
I.U. appears to be the sole, tax-supported entity, among the Chamber’s high $ supporters.
One would think the regional Chamber could tap national groups like Koch’s Americans for Prosperity, in lieu of tapping state public funds. If Indiana taxpayers joined libertarians to privatize Indiana University, it would be poetic justice.
Great speech.
Tragic that Indiana legislature is tone deaf.
Some people, Hoosiers included, have to learn the hard way.
“Experience is a dear teacher but a fool will learn in no other way.
In the words of Richard (Dick) Moore, Elkhart’s mayor (and a Republican, by the way):
“You have to change your [voting] behavior and stop sending these same people to Indianapolis.”