En Masse and Passionately Motivated: Red for Ed Action Day

November 19 was just over a week ago so all of the attendance numbers are in from the Red for Ed Action Day, a rally held that drew an estimated 20,000 Indiana educators to both the inside and more pronounced outside of the state Capital in Indianapolis.  They assembled, chanted in unison the loudest, and straight up called out lawmakers over pay increases.  Indiana teachers make around $10,000 less than the national average, according to the National Education Association. 

At least 500 teachers from Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS) and more 140 from the East Allen Community Schools (EACS) were in attendance.  5,000 individuals took their fight inside the Statehouse.  The fervor for the rally was so strong FWCS Superintendent Wendy Robinson and EACS Superintendent Marilyn Hissong cancelled classes for the day.  (Southwest Allen County and Northwest Allen County Schools did not cancel their classes.) 

For reference, when comparing crowd sizes, around 5,000 people attended the Women’s March in 2017 in Indianapolis, and, in 2011, 8,000 attended a Right to Work rally according to numbers estimated by the state police.

Increases in teachers’ pay are with students in mind, according to several attendees interviewed, especially when it comes to funding for things like career tech education, music classes, and even school supplies. 

Among the chants at the rally, attendees, thousands loud, promised action at the polls, during the next election, if lawmakers themselves take action.  However, according to Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma, teacher pay would probably have to wait until the next budget writing session, in 2021.  The state’s latest two-year budget was finalized in May.

Articles published in the JournalGazette.net, IndyStar.com, and USAToday.com contributed to this story.