Here is to the Oklahoma Teachers in the Streets

Decades ago I was talking to a friend who had recently moved here from Illinois. She made this observation about Oklahoma politics and politicians. "Your democrats are republicans and your republicans are like no one I've ever seen before."

Unfortunately now days far too many people nationwide have become acquainted with the far right edge of the republican party. It has gotten to the point any more, unless you're a raving born again Christian, have a bizarre gun fetish, or embrace outright fascist xenophobia, the party of Teddy Roosevelt won't let you in, much less vote for you. Indeed, only the ideologically pure of heart need apply. All others are forced to wear bells around their necks and wander the wilderness proclaiming themselves, "Unclean!"

Down here on the southern plains these tea party/MAGA types have had a death grip on the legislature for what seems like forever. They tend to loathe government in general and many of the people they are supposed to serve. In order to impede the functions and services of that government they do weird shit. Like a number of years ago when they passed a measure which makes it impossible to raise taxes unless 75% of the legislature votes in favor of it. In most places this is known as minority rule.

All of which brings us to public education, another area which cranks up the hyper-religious and tea party juices of your average Oklahoma law maker. Most of them consider public education just another extension of the dreaded, Big Government.

Well that and it teaches kids stuff like science and history rather than Christian fundamentalism and myths as fanciful as any spun by Homer, Uncle Remus, or even, Donald John Trump.

In order to spare us from the evil of what they consider debatable theories and fake facts disseminated in public schools, the state legislature, over the last 10 years or so, has cut funding for education and allowed teacher salaries to stagnate. One of the immediate benefits of the harsh conditions imposed upon students and educators is it allowed the republican majority to give huge tax breaks to the people who, among other things, control the fossil fuel and wind energy companies. The idea was these lucky recipients of the state's largesse would invest mightily in Oklahoma and we'd become some sort of capitalist utopia.

Unfortunately, like the, "right to work," scam passed years ago, this latest conservative trickle down economic fantasy hasn't worked out so well. Oklahoma is still nearly broke and vast numbers live below the poverty level, although we are home to many of the finer customer call centers still located within the republic's borders.

As for education the results have been, at best, bleak. Depending on which chart you look at, teacher's pay in Oklahoma is anywhere from 42nd to 48th in the nation and total state expenditures per student now ranks 47th. At the same time the legislature's pay is 10th highest in the United States while the Governor's salary is 17th.

A little while ago, inspired by educators in West Virginia who went on strike, Oklahoma teachers said enough is enough. For weeks they had watched the legislature kill one pay raise after another thanks to that 75% rule and a cabal of arch conservatives who vote against any tax increase on what they call, principle. That principle includes not pissing off the fat cats running the oil and gas industry who own many of them as surely as they do their fabulous mansions.

Fed up, last month Oklahoma teachers presented the legislature with an ultimatum. Give us a $10 grand raise spread out over a couple of years, replace the cuts in education, plus provide our support staffs and other state employees who have also suffered through a decade without a pay increase more money--or we walk.

The gang down at 23rd St. and Lincoln Blvd blinked--sort of. Faced with a state wide strike they magically came up with $400 million in new money.

However--and there is always a however when it comes to these clowns--while their self described, "historical," legislation, included a $6000 raise for the teachers it didn't do squat for the support staffs, other state employees, or more importantly replace any of the school funding slashed over the past decade. You know, money to pay for things like text books, desks, and school infrastructure. In other words they expected the teachers to sell out the kids and others by taking the money then shutting the fuck up.

Yesterday, despite the raise, educators from across the state walked out. Most of them are still out, because as one said, "I'm teaching at a high school built for 1,200 students that has over 2,000. I have more students in my classes than desks and we're using textbooks that are 20 years old." The tales of teachers spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of their own money to buy supplies for their pupils are too numerous to list.

Quick, name another job which requires you to get a bachelor's degree, then a masters, while expecting you to kick in part of your own salary in order to perform it successfully. Not to mention, possibly taking a bullet from some certifiable lunatic in the middle of a hallway. If there is one it certainly isn't in the Oklahoma house and senate chambers. Or the Governor's office. Or anywhere in that great glass tube in downtown OKC known as the Devon Energy Tower.

Here is to the teachers who had the guts to look the tea party wankers in the eye then take to the streets. And, here is hoping they stay there until they force those assholes to cave into what we all know is not just the future of the state, but what is, quite simply, right.


sic vita est


4-3-18