I am a longtime resident of Washington and I am writing (to the Legislature) for three reasons:
I write as a parent of school-age children. All children in the state have the right to the very best education that we can provide. It is our duty as adults to ensure this for our youngsters; 47th worst class size in the nation is not the best we can do. When my children cannot interact with their teachers, cannot have questions answered during instruction due to overloaded classrooms, something is fundamentally wrong. It is time to do right by our children.
I write as a voter. We voters passed class size and COLA initiatives into law. Passed them into law! How do legislators dare to think that it is OK to ignore the will of the people? I demand an answer! And, while claiming there is not enough money for education, they accept outrageously high pay increases for themselves! This shows a blatant disrespect for voters, and it is time that we are listened to!
I write as a teacher. Last Friday I participated in a one-day strike with my colleagues, directed at the Legislature. I was filled with pride to unite with those men and women and finally stand up for our students, and for ourselves. I demand that lawmakers fully fund class size and COLA laws written, and that they stop any further misuse of testing in our schools. They must immediately cease any attempt to strip teacher rights to bargain at the local level. And I insist that they protect educators from falling even further behind in health-care expenses. It is time that educators are given the respect that we have earned and that we, as professionals, deserve.
Educators from almost 60 districts across the state are united in saying, it is time that the Legislature fully funds public education!
Robyn Hayashi
Monroe
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