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I had the honor and pleasure of riding on a bus full of spirited teachers and support staff on their mission to rally for education at the state Capitol last Monday.

I am not a teacher. I raised two sons who attended public schools, have a grandson who graduated from a public school and is in his second year at a state college. I believe in public education.

I come from a working class, union family who never had the money to send any of us to a private school. Charter schools werent even thought of back then. My parents paid their taxes and knew that some of that money went to support public schools where their five kids would be given the best education available.

I believe that unions are good and that the unions for teachers are designed to help them get the full range of benefits and safe working conditions that they should have. That is why I supported Sarah Fortney when she ran for Polk County School Board. She believes this as well, as evidenced by her never-ending support for the teachers and support staff in Polk County schools.

I cant begin to tell you how emotional it was as the crowds from other school districts parted and allowed the mass of Polk County teachers and support staff, chanting We Are Polk, enter the building. These are the same teachers who were bullied and threatened for their jobs, and yet they made their signs and they boarded those buses at 6:30 in the morning and were delivered to the parking lot at the civic center in Tallahassee. Polk County was, literally, the star of the show in Tallahassee and it was inspiring.

Sadly, it was for something should never have happened.

And Im not talking about the letter that Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd sent out after hours in what was perceived as a threat to the staff. That was unfortunate, a bad call on her part, poor planning at best.

Im talking about the past 20-plus years in the Legislature that have been controlled by the Republican oligarchs. I keep hearing, even from those who are supportive of public education, that this is not a political issue. Rev. Al Sharpton said is wasnt political, that it was a moral issue.

Yes, morals play an important part in this issue, but we cant legislate morals although many try.

This is a political issue. We can legislate how we should fund our schools, how to make sure that our teachers have the best, up-to-date tools and equipment necessary to teach our children.

We can legislate budgets that direct our taxpayer dollars to public schools rather than divert our money to charters and private schools who are not held to the same standards as a public school. Charter schools, where the teachers arent as regulated, arent expected to have the same level of education, nor are they even expected to be committed, full-time employees. Charter schools that can be set up in a strip mall almost overnight and given thousands of dollars that could have helped a struggling public school; and then may shut down in a few short months.

This is a political issue when our schools, our teachers salaries and pensions, our students access to quality teaching tools and everyones safety are all controlled by the Legislature. And just a reminder here, the Legislature has been in control by the Republican Party for over 20 years.

You can say that politicians created this problem but look at who has had the power in Tallahassee for over 20 years. Democratic lawmakers can submit all the great bills they need to, but if the majority leader doesnt get them to the floor for a vote, it goes nowhere.

Im suggesting this: Please stop wrapping this around all politicians. They are not all the same.

And please stop saying this is not a political issue. It is absolutely a political issue. Teachers and parents, if you want to have the same old, same old, and be treated the same old way in 2021, go ahead and vote to keep the Legislature controlled by the same Grand Old Party that pushed you to your historic Take on Tallahassee day.

But if you want something different, you may want to consider voting for the Democrat on the ballot in November. And even better, find a teacher who wants to run for office. We have several running now. We could use a few more in Tallahassee.

Or you can join the new statewide Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DPECF/ or http://dempubed-fl.org (under construction).

Karen Cooper Welzel is chairwoman of the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee. She lives in Winter Haven.

Excerpt from:
Polk Perspective: Support teachers, support schools and support Democrats - The Ledger