John Thompson, teacher and historian in Oklahoma, just sent this update on the wildcat walkout:
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin told CBS News that the state’s teachers who walked out in protest against a decade of extreme budget cuts are “kind of like a teenager wanting a better car.”
When her words prompted a widespread backlash, the Republican governor, who presided over the tax cuts which starved Oklahoma schools and thus precipitated this week’s work stoppage, changed the subject, claiming “Antifa is here.”
http://www.news9.com/story/37876428/gov-fallin-faces-backlash-after-comments-to-cbs-news
Fallin isn’t the only Republican who is attacking teachers by pretending that their protests have attracted “outside” groups to the state Capitol. Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, said that he didn’t think protesting teachers were setting a good example for students. Rep. McDugle said in a now-deleted Facebook post that he would not vote “for another stinking (education) measure when they’re acting the way they’re acting.”
Rep. McDugle said teachers can, “Go ahead, be pissed at me if you want to.” Then he also complained that the protest has been “pretty rowdy,” and that “legislators have received death threats and alluded to legislative aides being released from duty early Tuesday due to safety concerns at the overcrowded Capitol.”
During the 3rd day of the walkout, Rep. John Enns (R) said that “25% of protestors were paid actors from Chicago.”
Contrary to those charges, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol tweeted that it has merely provided medical assistance, helped with one lost child, handled one minor traffic accident, and “assisted large crowds of teachers and other pedestrians crossing the streets.” The OHP said that the House Speaker had cleared the House Chamber due to noise. The reason why the OHP was limiting entry to the Capitol was that the Fire Marshall restricted entry to to crowd size, requiring a “one in, one out” procedure to avoid overcrowding.
https://www.facebook.com/KOCOZach/?fref=mentions
I haven’t seen any signs of Antifa or violence, but one supposed “outsider” lives three blocks from me. He is a member of a notorious radical group – the Oklahoma County Democratic Party.
However, I did see teachers acting like teenagers in one sense. I mean no disrespect to my former high school students; they were great dancers. But I don’t know that they could compete with the moves of dozens of teachers line dancing to Tom Petty’s “We Won’t Take It Anymore!”
Here are other things I’ve seen as 35,000 or more teachers have rallied the last three days.
The first teachers I met were discussing a former student at my old high school. They were mourning his decision to drop out. Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, who used to teach in my classroom, said that testing contributed to the student leaving school. I later learned about the tragic outcomes of two of my former students. Those conversations were reminders that despite the best efforts of teachers, in a state where more than 60% of students are economically disadvantaged, and where 85 to 90% of urban students are eligible for free and reduced lunch, funding for a system of student supports is essential.
I’ve also seen information that has been left for the legislators that explains:
Oklahoma loses 383 teachers per month;
Over 62,000 school kids are being taught by someone who isn’t certified to teach; and
Three of every four student teachers will leave Oklahoma.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/05/us/oklahoma-teachers-possible-strike-trnd/index.html
We’ve also had a chance to look at Oklahoma education through the eyes of national journalists who are documenting the ways that teachers struggle with huge classrooms, the lack of teaching materials, and the exhaustion resulting from working multiple part-time jobs, not to mention the indignity of selling plasma and going to food pantries to feed their families.
I have to admit, however, that I’ve enjoyed PBS’ coverage of teachers posting photos of today’s raggedy remnants of the textbooks. We used some of them in a school that was closed over a decade ago.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/oklahoma-teachers-are-posting-their-crumbling-textbooks-online
The Oklahoma walkout is a grassroots uprising. Like the teachers unions, the rank-in-file educators who revolted were aware of the many dangers that they took by stepping up. But as the National Education Association president Lily Eskelsen Garcia says, this is the “education spring.”
And as American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten advised marchers, in every job action, there is “always a moment of truth.” She predicted that Oklahomans would do both – stand firm and respond wisely to evolving circumstances.
It is no surprise that educators have kept the focus on our children, who have suffered through state funding cuts of 28%. Neither can we be surprised by the juvenile way that so many Republican leaders have responded to the moment of truth. Every day, we are feeling our hope grow. The whole world is watching, and outside of the besieged conservative leadership that created this crisis, there is no doubt as to who is battling for our kids.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin told CBS News that the state’s teachers who walked out in protest against a decade of extreme budget cuts are:
“kind of like a teenager wanting a better car.”
Fallin was right. Teachers do want a better car … one that runs instead of one that keeps breaking down, burns gallons of oil and gas polluting the air we breathe, or sits abandoned and rusts.
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BTW, “We won’t Take It Anymore” is by Twisted Sister. The late great Tom Petty wrote “I Won’t Back Down.” Both of these are good anthems for the Oklahoma teachers.
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You are right. And that’s also why my students ridiculed my tastes in music and dance. and that’s why I fact checked, and I guess I still got it wrong.
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I knew the song wasn’t from Petty as I am a fan. I had to look up Twisted Sister as I know nothing about them.
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The solution seems simple to me, especially since these teachers know they are in it for the long term. Face down the silly rethuglican politicians and VOTE THEM OUT! This is an ideal place to elect teachers to the state legislature since they do in fact have good support from parents and the general public who all see the issues first hand. November is right around the corner.
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It isn’t just about voting them out – you actually have to have someone run against them
Despite talk of widespread dissatisfaction with the Oklahoma Legislature, three quarters of the House members running for re-election have yet to draw a challenge.
https://newsok.com/despite-voter-frustration-house-very-likely-to-look-the-same-next-year/article/5587542
And if you are a teacher or pro public education/anti-school choice, expect Betsy Devos AFC to fund your opponent as they did the last election cycle.
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It is more than just have someone run against the minion of an autocratic billionaire. They have to offer the voters, a candidate they actually want to vote for instead of a choice between a cup half full and an empty cup that leaks when you attempt to fill it.
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May those who KNOW what the issues have been step up to run. The public is likely waiting to hear any candidate argue loudly against public education abuse.
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During the 3rd day of the walkout, Rep. John Enns (R) said that “25% of protestors were paid actors from Chicago… and that “the remaining 85% of protestors were paid actors from Illinois”
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Then he corrected himself and explained that he now knows Illinois is actually in Chicago. Actually, I am surprised Diane even put Enns’ comments on her site. She usually doesn’t allow crazy conspiracy theories.
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