Yesterday I had the privilege of participating in a wonderful rally for “Save Texas Schools” in Austin.
It was a beautiful, clear, crisp spring day, and a great day to be outdoors with thousands of students, parents, and educators.
The city closed the main street leading to the Capitol, and the marchers stepped cheerfully along the dozen or so blocks and massed in front of that majestic building.
There were thousands of marchers. I am no good at crowd estimates but I would guess this one was more than 10,000, there was a wonderful marching band from a Houston high school, bedecked in their beautiful blue uniforms. They were accompanied by a few dozen cheerleaders in spangled tights. There were drummers and singers.
And what a magnificent display of handwritten signs!
Two years ago, the legislature cut the public schools by $5.4 billion, while managing to find nearly $500 million for Pearson. Meanwhile, charters are expanding, and State Senator Dan Patrick wants vouchers. Turns out the state actually has a surplus of more than $8 billion, but there’s no talk of restoring the cuts. The current test regime is called STAAR, the latest in a long line of acronyms. Texas now requires students to pass 15 tests to graduate, the most of any state.
Thus the signs:
A student from Houston held up her handmade “Puppets of Pearson.”
Another: “Money for schools, not fools.”
“”STOP overtesting our students.”
“Our schools, our kids, our future.”
“Kids are more than test scores.”
“STAAR has gone too far.”
“”Your STAAR does not shine.”
“Education is a public good, not an opportunity for corporate gain. Stop privatization.”
“Are you looking out for just your child or all children.”
“Flunk Perry.”
“No STAAR. We need a Supernova.”
“Invest in Schools, not prisons.”
“Education is a right. Not just for the rich.”
“Can the legislature pass the tests?”
“We’ll remember in November.”
“No higher priority for surplus than our children.”
“Our schools are not broken. They are broke.”
“4-Star Education, Not STAAR-Driven Education.”
“I am a parent, and I vote.”
“Don’t mess with Texas children.”
Most impressive was the energy and enthusiasm of the students. They cheered their teachers and their schools. They created a sense of energy that enlivened the day.
Superintendent John Kuhn was electrifying as he spoke about the dedication and selflessness of educators.
An articulate Superintendent Mary Ann Whittaker described how her schools had taken down the banners exhorting the students to work harder for the tests and instead were emphasizing the arts and creativity.
A Baptist preacher, Dr. Frederick Haynes, brought roars from the crowd when he said, “Educate children now, so you won’t incarcerate them later.”
Former Commissioner Robert Scott explained why he could no longer support the high-stakes regime over which he was presiding.
There was much more, but the bottom line was that parents, students, educators, and others concerned about the schools joined to support them in a spirit of joy, commitment and energy.
It was a well-planned thrilling event.
Allen Weeks, the director of Save Our Schools, put together a tremendous show that displayed the energy that is ready to be tapped to change the conversation, not only in Texas, but across the nation.
You might want to reach out and get some tips from him about how to organize similar events in your state Capitol. The only way to beat Big Money is with big numbers of informed voters.
AWeeks@austinvoices.org
Why NOT vouchers? It’s still universal public funded education. The only thing it does is defund public unions so they can’t buy legislators any more and guarantee that parents who don’t want their children brainwashed by secular humanists won’t have to have them subjected to it. Up with parochial education, down with godless evolution.
Hilarious parody of a pro-voucher “argument.” Nice work!
He is a parody of himself….like Colbert and O’Reilly.
If you want religion in education you should pay for it with your own money. I will pay to educate children, but My tax dollars should not pay for your religious beliefs.
There is an amazing relationship between failures in K-12 and the criminal justice system. What happens to youth in K-12 directly relates to who ends up in jail, prison and the criminal justice system. Want to lower your taxes, educate the public. It is that simple. More people making more money means less crime and higher wages. When more people are paying in and you have fixed costs spread between more people the cost per person is less. This is simple math.
I have always loved the city of Austin and am proud to see Austin standing up for education. I hope this is the beginnning of continued change. Thanks for representing New Yorkers Diane!
Love all the signs…great ideas. Thank you to all in Austin and Diane.
This was the best Save Texas Schools Rally ever! Last year, most of the signs were about funding schools and using the rainy day fund. This year, it seemed like more than half of the signs were about our new, horrible testing system called STAAR. Diane, I loved the way you acknowledged all of the unique and creative signs, but I must admit, I feel a little left out, even when I’m surrounded by education activists. What about my sign, the one that read, “TEXAS PARENTS OPT OUT STATE TESTS”? It’s lonely out here on the “radical fringe”.
http://www.texasobserver.org/mother-against-standardized-testing/
Oh, I hope this rally encouraged lots of parents to opt out. This has to occur in HUGE numbers (how about 10,000? Or–look at what happened at Garfield H.S.–teachers boycotting tests, parents supporting this by opting out kids–300/400 MAP opt-outs; 75 students took the tests! We can do even better than this all over the country–the state standardized tests are upon us! Parents–OPT your kids OUT NOW!!!
Interesting to see the big banner for International Socialist Organization and their table at the Rally.. Is that what is next for public education?
It is just something you have to tolerate if you want free speech.
Any video of the event? I’d love to see and hear some of those speeches. Khun’s speeches are always inspiring.
There will be video of the Save Texas Schools rally, and when it is available, I will post it.
Diane, Yesterday was a great day for true reform in Texas. It was wonderful to see and hear you. I’ve already received over 30 likes for the photo of you and I on Congress St in Austin: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151749513153747&set=a.10151585539148747.604285.543333746&type=1&theater¬if_t=like We have a lot of work in front of us to repair the damage of these past 2 years. But you are correct, our graduation rates in 2011 where the highest ever. Sadly it appears that the class of 2013 may be a slowing of our graduation rate progress, or even a step back.
Please tweet the photo or send it to me online as I don’t use FB.
I just sent several pictures to the gardendr email. I hope that was the right one.
Yes, I got them but don’t know how to post them on the blog.
They are great! I tweeted one photo where the Houston students gave me a T-shirt.
Great rally! Great Before Rally Dinner. Interesting that the only voices of dissent were the couple who were interested in self promotion instead of actual dialogue. Your comment were inspiring and “right on” !
While I agree with the sentiments expressed, I know Mary Ann Whittaker and her school district is all about the test scores and only the test scores. Teachers have been threatened with firing in her school district because of benchmark scores, not just test scores. Dissension is not allowed In Hudson ISD. Visit the district’s website.