INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds of teachers, parents and children streamed into the Statehouse on Monday to protest the maneuvers of Republican legislators to strip Democratic state schools chief Glenda Ritz of some her power.
Their numbers and noise swelled as snow fell outside and GOP legislators, without explanation, stalled a key vote to remove Ritz as chairwoman of the Indiana State Board of Education.
“The weather outside is lousy, but the climate for teachers in Indiana is even worse,” said Kelly Hodson, an Anderson teacher who arrived an hour early to make sure she got a seat.
Many more stood, filling the Statehouse’s cavernous north atrium and lining the balconies and stairwells of the upper floors. As they loudly cheered a line-up of speakers, including Ritz, many waved signs bearing such messages as “Stop the Assault on Public Education” and “Respect Democracy.”
The rally — sponsored by the state teachers’ unions, state PTA and Indiana Coalition for Public Education — was billed as a rally to support public education. But much of the fury was targeted at Republicans who’ve moved to sideline Ritz, the state superintendent of public instruction, since her upset election victory two years ago. Ritz is the only Democrat elected to a statewide office.
Taryn Greaser, an Indianapolis mother of two, came to the rally with a poster reading, “I Stand With the Librarian,” reference to Ritz’s former job, which some Republicans have derided.
Like others in the crowd, Greaser bemoaned what she saw as an attack on Ritz’s authority, including her role as chairwoman of the policymaking Board of Education, whose other members are appointed by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.
A long-running feud between the Pence-backed board and Ritz peaked last week, with both sides blaming each other for problems related to ISTEP+, the state’s standardized test that had more than doubled in length.
The timing of the rally was critical. The House voted last week to let the state board pick its own chair. The Senate was scheduled to vote on the proposal Monday, but that was delayed without explanation by Senate leaders.
Republican leaders have repeatedly defended the measure, saying Ritz has actively opposed implementing policy crafted by the board and Legislature.
Teacher and parent Karrie Scheub drove more than two hours from Hammond to attend the rally and protest the increasing weight of ISTEP tests, which are now linked to teacher pay, school ratings and student retention. Ritz had sought a moratorium on test results given the increasing controversy over its length, but Pence quickly shot down that idea.
“It seems like all we do anymore is prepare for the ISTEP test,” Scheub said. “It takes away from teaching. And it kills the joy of learning.”
Keri Miksza of Bloomington arrived the rally with her two small children in tow. Neither are old enough for ISTEP testing, but both carried signs questioning the value of a newly designed test that may cost up to $65 million a year.
Her 6-year-old wanted to make a sign that read: “Our schools need more pools.” Her 2-year-old waved one that read: “Don’t test me, protect me.”
“It just feels like education is broken,” said Miksza. “All this testing isn’t doing anyone any good.”
Lawmakers met on Monday afternoon, working on array of bills while the sounds of the rally echoed through the chambers. At one point, Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane of Anderson stepped off the Senate floor to address the crowd.
“Never forget, it’s not the politicians that own this house,” he said to a cheering throng. “This is the people’s house.”
Ritz made an unexpected appearance, telling the roaring crowd: “I am an educator, and I know what we need in our schools.”