Educators rally statewide to protest legislation

Some carried signs, most wore red but all were present for a common cause: to voice opposition to education-related bills in the Indiana legislature.

About 200 educators and supporters gathered Saturday in front of City Hall in the chilly air.

The demonstrators wanted to show their opposition to many of the education bills working their way through the legislature.

Senate Bill 1 is one that Richardson said is causing teachers concern. If passed, one of the provisions of the bill would establish an annual staff performance evaluation that would categorize teachers as highly effective, improvement necessary or
ineffective.

Another bill the crowd protested was SB 575, which could limit the collective bargaining ability of teachers’ unions.

They also protested HB 1003, which would allow students to use scholarships, paid for by taxpayers, to attend a charter school.

Bill Scheuerman, a father of two children in the Monroe County Community School Corporation, said it is not just teachers that are upset by the attempts for education reform.

“Parents are outraged,” he said. “We can’t believe this is happening. The systematic cuts have created a disaster.”

Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, the author of HB 1003, said his bill would create
necessary competition among schools and make the education better overall.

“This is not an indictment of schools. It is not an indictment of educators,” Behning said. “I think anyone in a competitive market would agree that competition is helpful.”

Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, began to address the crowd, but her words were drowned out as the demonstrators chanted, “Run for governor.”

Simpson said the legislative assault is part of a right-wing national agenda and is doing harm to public schools.

“I have never voted ‘no’ so many times in my whole life,” Simpson said.

Many Republicans, including Gov. Mitch Daniels, have said they are upset with the Democrats who have fled the state to avoid voting for education-related bills. He said they are violating the democratic process.

“I’m giving my full attention to the duty, the job I hired on for, and I hope ... that our Democrats get out of the hot tub, will go back to work, will finish at the end of April,” Daniels said at a press conference Feb. 27.

Simpson said she supports the Democrats who have left the state to pause the legislative session.

“It is their constitutional right,” she said. “It’s their duty to break a quorum to protect the wishes of their represented population.”

The speech was interrupted by a telephone call. Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, called to say thank you to the crowd for supporting public education.

Welch said she was with Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, and they were discussing the benefit of the time out in the legislative session so that people’s rights can be heard.

After accidentally hanging up the phone on Welch and Pierce, Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan stood before the crowd and unzipped his winter jacket to reveal a red IU sweatshirt that read “Defend the Rock.”

Kruzan said he wore the sweatshirt only because it was red but later realized the IU football slogan had a message relevant to the rally’s cause.

“We are here defending the bedrock of this community: public education,” Kruzan said.

Before Kruzan sent the people in the crowd on their march to the courthouse and back, he said he wanted to end his speech on a positive note.

“The silver lining of these dark, dark clouds is that all around the state there are gatherings of people finally saying enough is enough,” Kruzan said.

In an eruption of applause, the crowd took off.

Because the MCEA could not attain a parade permit, the crowd was restricted to walking on the sidewalk.

In a single-file line, the teachers, parents, students and supporters surrounded the courthouse.

“Public education: the future of our nation,” they repeated in unison.