http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/educationr_499.mp3
About two thousand people filled the lawn of the capitol for an education rally. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE JOINED TOGETHER TO CHANT AND SEND A MESSAGE TO POLITICIANS. THEY EVEN HAD A SONG TO SING LED BY BOB WICKLINE, A MUSICIAN FROM WASHINGTON STATE. THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE AT THE RALLY FROM SOUTHWEST MISSOURI...REEDS SPRING, SPRINGFIELD AND WILLARD WERE ALL REPRESENTED. ANNIE COCKRUM IS A MEMBER OF THE SPRINGFIELD PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION...SHE SPOKE AT THE RALLY ABOUT THE IMPACT BUDGET CUTS HAVE HAD ON THE DISTRICT. SEVERAL EDUCATION LOBBY GROUPS HELPED ORGANIZE THE RALLY. THE GROUPS BILLED THE EVENT AS A NON-POLITICAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY RALLY...A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MISSOURI SCHOOL BOARDS' ASSOCATION SAID THE GOAL WAS NOT TO ADVANCE ANY PARTICULAR PLAN FOR DEALING WITH EDUCATION FUNDING. REPUBLICANS HAVE PROPOSED CUTTING OTHER AREAS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO GENERATE MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION...SPRINGFIELD REPRESENTATIVE MARK WRIGHT. IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN MADE IT CLEAR HIS SOLUTION INVOLVES TAX INCREASES ON BUSINESS, TOBACCO, AND GAMBLING. EVEN IF THE EVENT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A-POLITICAL, SOME OF THE SIGNS WAVING AT THE RALLY WERE CLEARLY PARTISAN...ON ONE SIGN WERE THE WORDS, "BIG CORPORATION TAX LOOPHOLES ARE HANGING OUR KIDS." STEVE CODRICK, THE FATHER OF A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN WAS HOLDING A SIGN AT THE RALLY. REPUBLICANS HAVE CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR FOR FAILING TO RELEASE ABOUT 122 MILLION DOLLARS HE'S WITHHELD FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO SAY HE'LL WITHHOLD THE MONEY UNTIL IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO RELEASE IT TO SCHOOLS. THE RALLY COINCIDED WITH THE RELEASE OF A REPORT ON EDUCATION FUNDING FROM A JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. THE REPORT DIDN'T IMPRESS HOLDEN. THE HARSH CRITIQUE CAME FROM THE GOVERNOR SHORTLY BEFORE THE START OF THE RALLY, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO DISCOURAGE PARISANSHIP. AND ART TEACHER HOLLY SMOTHERS TOLD THE NEARLY TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE AT THE RALLY THAT IF POLITICIANS DON'T PUT PARTISANSHIP ASIDE, THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY WILL BE WATCHING. DESPITE THAT THREAT, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MARK WRIGHT SAID HE WAS GLAD TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE TURN OUT AND SHOW HOW MUCH THEY CARE FOR EDUCATION.