TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Thousands of teachers from all over the state of Florida traveled to Tallahassee to make their voices heard today in at the Rally for Public Education.
Teachers say they are holding our Florida lawmakers accountable, demanding improved funding, fair and competitive pay, an end to the over-testing of students, and the restoration of local control in their districts.
Today they marched throughout the streets of downtown Tallahassee from the city’s Civic Center to the Old capital building.
The rally featured speeches from several community activists.
“We can not have a quality nation if we do not have quality students, and you can’t have quality students without quality teachers,” said guest speaker, Rev. Al Sharpton.
Florida is one of the lowest ranking states in teacher pay in the nation. Today they vy for livable wages.
“I think its time to pay teachers a fair wage,” said Florida school teacher, Mylon Pope.
“I think it’s strange that teachers go to college and try to teach people and don’t make a lot of money,” Alexander Ouellette.
Today’s rally is not only to emphasize the need for better pay but also the need for increased resources.
“We also want our kids to have the best and that cost,” said Florida teacher, Rosyln Johnson.
“We are doing more with less, often times our students don’t have their basic needs met,” said Lee County School Teacher, Anna Witten.
The Fund Our Future campaign started last year, teachers say this rally in just one step closer to getting the funding and support they deserve.
