A rally is being planned to voice concerns about Oklahoma’s education.
The rally is in response to the election of Kevin Stitt as governor of Oklahoma and is meant to ensure that Stitt will reverse the education policies that former governor Mary Fallin has placed.
Simón Gómez, music theater/composition sophomore, said he plans to attend the rally.
“I think that it’s often overlooked that governors and state officials really work for the people,” he said. “I think the whole point of the rally is to remind him that he works for us. For me, it’s important because I’m not a citizen, and I can’t vote. The only way I would be able to express my current state of discontent with policies is voting, and I can’t even do that. Going to the rally becomes my only way to show my voice.”
In the attempt to close a $1.3 billion hole in the state budget, Fallin cut public school budgets, resulting in teachers being fired. In 2011, she took administrative powers from the Oklahoma State Board of Education and put all the power in the superintendent. Per-pupil funding has been cut by 28 percent since 2008, and educators have not received a raise in over a decade. From April 2-12, teachers walked out of their classrooms to protest for a pay raise.
Stitt’s plans include raising teacher pay, as well as expanding health insurance for school district workers. He plans to grow the statewide Individual Career Academic Plan with the goal to prepare students for better careers, as well as focus more on struggling schools instead of high performing ones. He has also hosted roundtable meetings with teachers to address their concerns.
Ánh-Mai Kearney, vocal performance/music theater sophomore, said she is not questioning what Stitt will do, but how he intends to fix these issues.
“I don’t think you would ever hear a public official say, ‘I don’t want to fix education,’” she said. “The argument lays in the how, the question of how we are going to change things. What actions are being taken?”
Gómez said he is more interested in the focus of how the money will be used.
“Is this money going towards teacher’s salaries? Is it going to provide supplies for public school classes? Is it going to put more emphasis on charter school education?” he said.
Kaylila Pasha, acting sophomore, said she believes that a rally could bring change.
“We need to note the amount of national attention the teacher’s walkout brought,” she said. “I think it’s really proactive, and it should be applauded that people are using their voices to express their concerns.”
The rally will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 14, 2019 outside of the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd.
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