Advocates celebrate public education at Statehouse
02/21/2017

Hundreds of educators, parents and kids from around the state gathered at the Statehouse in Indianapolis on Monday to celebrate public education.

ISTA was joined by AFT Indiana, American Association of University Women, Concerned Clergy, Indiana Coalition for Public Education, Indiana Parent Teacher Association, Indiana Small & Rural Schools Association, Indiana Urban Schools Association, League of Women Voters of Indianapolis and Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education.

The celebration included exhibits from local community public school programs and projects to demonstrate a sampling of the quality programing offered by public schools in Indiana.

The day was capped by speakers from the various coalition groups who sponsored the event.

The message from the groups to legislators was loud and clear – reject failed education reforms and support our state’s traditional public schools.

Teresa Meredith, president of ISTA, was one of those speakers and talked of the importance of focusing our attention and support on our public schools.

“It’s time to bring greater awareness to the really good things that are happening in public schools,” Meredith said. “Events like this kind of energize us all and remind us that it’s up to us to share those stories.”

Those attending the celebration received good news that they were being heard. It was announced that the Senate had defeated a bill that would have taken away voter’s ability to elect the state superintendent. A roar of cheers from the crowd followed the announcement of SB 179’s defeat.

Attendees left notecards of thanks to those senators that voted against the bill, as well as notes on various other bills public education advocates are following. 

To see photos from the celebration, visit Flickr.