Calcasieu Federation of Teachers President Jean Johnson met with State Rep. Mike Danahay of Sulphur as more than 1,000 teachers visited the capitol.
(Baton Rouge – March 27, 2012) Schools in Calcasieu Parish closed today so that teachers could visit the State Capitol in Baton Rouge and share their concerns with lawmakers about Gov. Bobby Jindal’s radical education plans.
More than 1,000 teachers were on the capitol steps at 10 A.M. to hear from Calcasieu Federation of Teachers President Jean Johnson, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monahan and several legislators who are working with educators to blunt the governor’s extreme agenda. They were joined by several educators from Beauregard and Allen Parishes.
Johnson, who organized today’s event, thanked teachers for taking time to visit the capitol.
“I know you would rather be in school with the children,” she said, “but it is so important that you come here and tell legislators what you think.”
Johnson relayed a message from Calcasieu Superintendent of Schools Wayne Savoy, who said he was proud of teachers for standing up for their rights.
State Rep. Gene Reynolds, D-Minden, is a former teacher and administrator. He criticized Jindal’s bills.
“There was too much too fast. These bills are loaded with pitfalls," Reynolds said. "Implementing these bills will not be as easy as the administration thinks."
Reynolds said there are serious problems with a lack of academic and financial accountability, limited provision for special needs students and local tax dollars being funneled to fund private school vouchers.
Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, reminded the crowd of the importance of public education.
"Public education has played an indispensable role in making this the great nation we are today. We must not diminish those things that have made America so great," Jones said. "Thomas Jefferson set forth the ideal that public education would be the foundation for our nation."
Rep. Patricia Smith, D- Baton Rouge
"Thank you for coming here today and thank you for standing your ground. We all know that these fast-tracked bills will truly be the demise of public education in Louisiana."
Monaghan explained Gov. Jindal’s plan, saying that if he succeeds, it could spell the end of public education in Louisiana. The two main bills in the governor’s agenda, Monaghan said, would privatize public education and de-professionalize teaching.
Gov. Jindal is trying to push his agenda through the legislature at breakneck speed, Monaghan said, because people would not approve of his plans if they were well-known.
“There is no reason to force action this way, except as an extension of the governor’s ‘shock and awe’ legislative tactics,” Monaghan said.
Over 1,000 teachers from Southwest Louisiana gathered on the steps of the capitol Wednesday.
It was the second time this legislative session that school systems have shut down because of teacher anger over the governor’s proposals. On the day the governor’s bills were heard by the House Education Committee, school systems in East Baton Rouge and Vermilion Parishes were shuttered because so many teachers wanted attend the hearing.