Schools in many Oklahoma cities and towns remain closed on Thursday as the state’s teachers continue to fight for education funding. Teachers again flooded the state capitol, along with students and parents and other supporters, as an internal poll released by the Oklahoma Education Association showed support for the teachers rising to 68 percent, with even a majority of Republicans supporting the walkout.
Students who turned out at the capitol got bag lunches from the Oklahoma City Public Schools, and they came with their own stories of why funding is so sorely needed:
"Every year our band fees go up and some students can't afford to be in band," said Joe Smith, a junior at South Moore High School and a member of the school's drumline. [...]
"We have to buy our own books whenever we have to read chapter books in class because our teachers don't have class sets," said Gabriella Cavazos, a junior at Carl Albert High School.
The widespread support in the poll and the dedication of students showing up to protest may be two reasons Gov. Mary Fallin walked it back a little after drawing criticism for comparing teachers to teenagers who “want a better car.” On Wednesday she said that:
“We should all lower the tempo of disrespect … that I have seen around the Capitol and heard from many different sources,” Fallin said.
You first, person who described to your state’s teachers as spoiled teenagers for daring to call for textbooks that aren’t falling apart.
Speaking of those textbooks and the schools’ broader funding needs, state legislators are moving forward on some of the funding Oklahoma schools need, although far from enough—Wednesday night the state House passed a $20 million internet sales tax. But Thursday morning teachers and supporters were already lining up at the capitol to continue their fight.