We couldn't have asked for a better day to rally. The weather was gorgeous — not too hot, not too cold, and not too windy. That's a rare day in Oklahoma. Thousands of teachers, parents, administrators, and students gathered together outside our State Capitol building to show our support for public education — and to ask our legislators to listen to us, to truly hear what we are saying and invest in our children.
The highlight of the day though was the slam poetry performed by Kiante Miles, a senior at Mustang High School. I missed the first few seconds because my phone was slow, and I'm way in the back, but you can listen to most of it here:
You can watch a higher quality video taken from a better angle here.
My colleagues and I rode to the Capitol in a Little Axe bus, and I was able to take my children with me. As I mentioned in a Twitter convesation during the #OklaEd chat on Sunday night:
@steph_powell11 I'm bringing both my kids with me. I want them to know they can stand up for their own education. #OklaEd
— Mrs. Waters (@watersenglish) March 30, 2015
I also want my children to have choices in their education, and in the education of their children. I don't want education to be something that is done to them. I want them to take an active role in what they're learning and how they're preparing themselves for their futures.
Little Axe Middle School Principal Dalton Griffin jokingly asked my daughter if she wanted to carry our school flag. He didn't realize she'd volunteer enthusiastically — and carry the flag the for the entire time we were out there. Go Aimee!
Our school had an awesome turnout for the rally!
My son graciously snapped a couple of pictures of me with a pillar of the #OklaEd community, the retired Norman Public Schools Reading Teacher Claudia Swisher:
You can read more about the speakers and impact of the rally here (I will continue to update this list):
- OK Education Truths: Signs, shirts, and pics from the #okedrally today
- Mrs. Mac: Why I Didn't Go to the Oklahoma Rally for Education
- Oklahoma Watch: Teachers, Parents Renew Call For More Education Funding
- Tulsa World: Keith Ballard tells thousands rallying at Capitol for education that not all legislators ‘get it'
- Red Dirt Report: “Brighter Future” rally reveals deeper determination of public education advocates