Public School Educators and Supporters Seeing, Wearing Red
Tags: Chris Janotta, EdVoices, Wear Red for Ed, Wear Red for Public Ed
By Meredith Barnett
Educators across America are seeing red – in more ways than one.
Spurred by attacks on education and workers’ rights across the country, teachers are showing their solidarity with the Wear Red for Public Ed campaign.
The effort kicked off Jan. 4, when a group of Florida teachers and parents encouraged colleagues to don red in protest of their state government’s controversial education proposals, including slashing teacher tenure. Word spread via Facebook, and it caught the attention of Illinois educator Chris Janotta, coordinator of the Save Our Schools Million Teacher March and blogger for EdVoices.
“Wearing red might push the doors open – if even just a crack – of those making all the decisions regarding public education,” writes Janotta in a recent EdVoices post. “When they look up and see a sea of red, perhaps they will realize how many people truly do support public education and, therefore, may not be as willing to go along with all of the current ‘reforms’ as was thought.”