On Jan 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, thousands of Washington Education Association members and students gathered at the Statehouse steps in Olympia to protest for the ample funding of Washington State schools. The rally was the most recent effort by citizens to enforce the ruling of the 2012 McCleary Decision which required Washington State to fully fund public education.

What does fully fund mean? Duncan King, a senior at Garfield High School in Seattle stated that, “[his classmates] learn that their education is not as valued as others.” Due to lack of funds, these students, are forced to take fewer classes than they will need to graduate. In 2019, seniors across the state of Washington will need 24 credits in order to graduate. King expressed concern for his classmates, who do not have the opportunity to have 6-credit schedules all four years of high school.

Summer Stinson, a co-sponsor of the Washington Paramount Duty organization, stated that “Washington needs more economic justice for students,” and echoed King’s message that each student in Washington deserves to have equal educational opportunities through the public school system.

While many of the speakers focused their message on the rights of students, Charlotte Chinder advocated for the rights and professional pay for classified staff members. Chindler walked her captive audience through the day of an elementary student, explaining that it starts with bus drivers, includes interactions with secretaries, lunchroom workers, custodians, and also ends with bus drivers. Chindler explained that these classified staff, who are often viewed as inferior to classified teachers and librarians, are the “workhorses” of schools.  

Appropriate to the holiday from school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, many speakers quoted Martin Luther King Jr. as they repeated: “The time is always right to do what is right.” This statement was not in the context of Civil Rights, but in the context of prodding Congress to do what they feel is both right and beneficial to all students, regardless of their race, age, gender, or mental abilities.

In the words of the Washington State PTA President, Barbara Martin, the rally served as a “profound call to action” to the Washington State Congress who are expected to formulate a plan to fund education by 2018, a deadline that is fast approaching, with no sign of consideration from Congress.

The underlying message from WEA members and teachers across the state of Washington was best said by Paul Schneider, a social studies teacher and Spokane School Board member: “All kids matter.”