I stood on a busy street corner Wednesday with a sign “Fund Schools Now, Stop Breaking the law, Washington Legislature is in ‘contempt of court.’” Passersby predominantly quizzically read our signs, clearly unaware of the real issues. Once they quickly read our signs they, for the most part, waved to us, honked their horns or gave other positive signs. Some drivers simply ignored us, some emphatically honked horns and waved. The minority yelled obscenities, really, I can only recall two who were rude in their behavior.
After two hours on the corner, we made our way to the courthouse in Mount Vernon where two speakers recounted the many voter-passed initiatives that are now law, that our Legislature refuses to uphold.
As I looked around the crowd there were brand new teachers, clearly seasoned folks like me ( I’m just completing year 29) and folks who have been around education even longer. I saw fellow church members, Christians, I saw community folks I know, I saw fellow teachers, parents and children.
We made a gut-wrenching decision. We left our kids and our classrooms, we went against the ethics we so dearly hold because enough is enough! Seven years and no COLA, class size the 47th worst in the nation. We have waited as the economy began recovering to ask for the compensation we should have had, now we’re 13 percent behind the inflation rate.
I stood there for you: students who deserve me to be at my best. I stood there for colleagues: who work equally hard and don’t feel they can share in this action, and I stood there for the future of education, kids and teachers in years to come in Washington and the nation.
Karen Talbert
Conway Elementary
Mount Vernon
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