Becky Evans is only 11, but she's old enough to know that vouchers will cause more problems than they will solve.
"Proposition 38 just doesn't make any sense," asserts Becky. "It doesn't make sense to destroy public education and public schools. I don't agree with that at all. I think vouchers will only make rich people richer."
Becky turned out at the No on Prop. 38 rally in Sonoma to express her anti-voucher sentiments, accompanied by her mother, Kevin Evans, a first-grade teacher at Flowery School and member of the Valley of the Moon Teachers Association; her father, Gary Evans; and a neighbor.
... Public education supporters in Sonoma hold a rally to fight Prop. 38.
It may have been the Friday afternoon before the Labor Day holiday weekend, but Sonoma teachers, their families and community members filed into the Sonoma Valley High School gym with handmade signs that proclaimed their determination to preserve public education.
"I teach in a public school that is 70 percent free or reduced lunch," said Kevin Evans. "Even with $4,000 in vouchers, most children would not be able to afford voucher schools. Vouchers would further segregate our schools. Vouchers are not in the best interest of all children."
5th-grader Nicholas Shepard (right) listens to rally speakers.
CTA President Wayne Johnson addressed the crowd, which, in addition to teachers and their families included local politicians, parents, school board members, and community members. He praised the crowd for its commitment and told them their dedication would be the key to defeating Prop. 38.
Among the attendees was Tom Stubbs, who was Johnson's student at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles. Stubbs, now a Sonoma-area school administrator, came to protest the voucher movement, as well as to say hello to his former instructor, whom he described as "the best teacher I ever had."
... Below, teacher Kevin Evans (left), her daughter Becky and husband Gary are united in their opposition to Prop. 38.
With the campaign in full swing, teachers and friends of public education are needed to work phone banks and walk precincts. To find out what you can do, contact your local association or visit the CTA Web site [http://www.cta.org/].
Sherry Posnick-Goodwin