Story Created:
Mar 25, 2009 at 3:24 PM CST
Story Updated:
Mar 26, 2009 at 1:29 PM CST
Oklahoma City -- Hundreds of teachers gathered at the state capitol Wednesday to voice opposition to a bill they say would turn our school systems upside down. The teachers and the Oklahoma Education Association have one goal in mind: to put a stop to the legislation.
Nearly 300 teachers rallied against a three page bill they say would have lasting negative affects on students statewide.
"I think it's important for the public to know what's going on and how the students will be affected when it comes to class sizes and teacher quality," says Roy Bishop, President of the Oklahoma Education Association.
Bishop gave a speech voicing his concerns as part of the OEA's lobby day at the capitol.
Senate Bill 834 is designed to give more power to local school boards giving them more freedom from state mandates.
Bishop says the bill would eliminate important mandates like class size limits and graduation requirements.
"Our members are upset because it's an attack on our students and teacher quality. And when you put students' learning in jeopardy, our members get upset," says Bishop.
The bill also wouldn't require districts to hire certified teachers. The bill's author, Sen. John Ford, R-Bartlesville, says schools statewide would still be bound by No Child Left Behind, which requires properly trained teachers.
Educator Patti Peg-Harjo still feels the bill holds teachers in contempt.
"It seems to be saying that certified teachers are not important in our classroom and that anybody is able to teach our children and I think that if we think that process through we'll find that's not true," says Harjo.
The bill has already passed the senate and is awaiting a house committee hearing.
Ford says the legislation is designed to help, but educators believe it will do otherwise.
"It would create mass chaos in many districts," says Bishop.
Ford says the bill will help districts by giving them more say in what happens in their own schools.
Students will still have to pass the same standardized tests and Ford believes school boards will still want to do whatever it takes to give students the best possible education.
