Arizona, Colorado teachers rally, schools close for 2nd day
PHOENIX — As thousands of teachers and supporters gathered at the Arizona Capitol to protest inadequate public school funding for a second day Friday, Gov. Doug Ducey again skipped the chance to address them.
Instead, the Republican governor’s public relations machine sent out links to a series of interviews the previous day with TV news reporters where Ducey pushed his plan to boost teacher pay by 20 percent by 2020, talking point by talking point.
The scene was far different Friday in Denver, where several thousand teachers gathered for a second day to protest low education funding were greeted by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper. He said he would work to have the state repay all of the approximately $1 billion borrowed from education during the recession.
“We see you. We hear you,” said Hickenlooper, who wore a red checked shirt and spoke for less than five minutes. “We are working with you, not just today.”
However, Hickenlooper didn’t offer any funding above what has already been proposed for next year. Some teachers shouted over him “We want more,” while others applauded his pledge.
Ducey, who is seeking re-election this year, never showed up to address the 50,000 educators and supporters Thursday or the thousands who were at the Capitol on Friday. He has called the leaders of the grass-roots group that organized the walkout with the Arizona Education Association politically motivated.
Arizona teachers are among the lowest paid in the nation.