Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 20 april 2018
Social media helps fuel teacher activism across the country

By MELISSA DANIELS in Peoria. In addition to
Associated Press staying tuned into the main
PHOENIX (AP) — The pub- Facebook group and a
lic education uprisings that few other discussion pages,
began in West Virginia and she's using communica-
spread to Arizona, Okla- tion apps to stay in touch
homa and Kentucky share with teachers at her school
similar origin stories. about organizing efforts
Teachers, long tired of low so they don't have to use
wages and a dearth of district resources. Online
state funding, begin talking platforms have been key
to each other online. to staying connected, she
Their Facebook groups said.
draw tens of thousands "It's amazing how engaged
of members. They share these already-so-busy-
stories of their frustrations teachers are in this fight,"
and then they demand she said. "They are finding
change. a way to get their teaching
Kentucky public school em- done, and still finding time
ployee Nema Brewer co- to have a voice."
founded the KY120 United In Oklahoma, eighth-grade
Facebook group that drew history teacher Alberto
more than 40,000 members Morejon in early March
in a month. Teachers there founded the Facebook
are calling for more educa- group supporting a teach-
tion funding, triggering ac- In this March 8, 2018, file photo, Alberto Morejon, a Stillwater, Okla., teacher and administrator er walk-out that's now be-
tions that forced more than of the Facebook group "Oklahoma Teacher Walkout - The Time is Now," speaks during a media ing used by about 80,000
30 schools to close last Fri- conference at the Oklahoma Education Association in Oklahoma City. teachers. Morejon, who
day. Associated Press said he doesn't belong to a
"We had no idea it would union, is continuing to push
light a fire under people," tion day was Twitter-driven. izona movement cropped tors United a "breath of for new funding for public
Brewer said. Most recently, the group up outside of organized fresh air" in the fight for education.
Educators communicat- used Facebook Live to labor. But Arizona Educa- higher education funding. "We're going to keep show-
ing online played a key share news of a planned tion Association President "It shares the same pur- ing up until they do some-
role in forming grassroots vote on whether to strike in Joe Thomas said the union pose, and that's why I think thing," he said.
groups that are storming their quest for a 20-percent stands in solidary with the we can stand so easily next Once it started, the group
statehouses and holding raise and more than $1 bil- grassroots group. He spoke to each other," he said. grew quickly; within six
demonstrations. It started lion in new education fund- at a rally where Arizona "I've said multiple times, 'I hours of adding mem-
in West Virginia, where two ing. Voting started Tuesday Educators United unveiled don't care who throws the bers to the newly created
teachers set up a private group, it had 17,000 mem-
Facebook page last fall bers.
that grew to 24,000 mem- "I think it shows there's a
bers. The group provided a problem, and it needs to
private forum for educators be fixed," Morejon said.
to plot strategy, bolster re- Beth Becker, a social me-
sistance and plan demon- dia coach and strategist
strations. After they went in progressive politics, said
on strike and won a pay that social media is "the
raise, educators elsewhere great democratizer" and
took notice. thus a powerful organizing
Jennifer Grygiel, a commu- tool.
nications and social me- "It has given a voice to
dia professor at Syracuse people who in the past
University, said people are didn't have a voice, be-
increasingly realizing they cause they didn't have that
can coordinate online for $1 million to buy a member
social causes, such as the of Congress with," she said.
#MeToo movement. En- But online activism can't
gaging online can also be be the sole front, she said.
a way for people to form Marches and demonstra-
their own identities, she In this March 9, 2018, file photo, Nema Brewer, an employee of the Fayette County School District, tions are still necessary to
said. "It's where we congre- uses a protest sign as a makeshift bullhorn to shout at the Kentucky Senate chambers in protest of draw attention to a cause,
gate now." Kentucky Senate Bill 1, in Frankfort, Ky. Becker said, citing the Park-
In Arizona, teachers formed Associated Press land, Florida, students be-
a Facebook group called coming activists to change
Arizona Educators United gun laws and spurring the
that now has more than after Gov. Doug Ducey has their demands, joined touchdown, I want to win March for Our Lives.
40,000 members. Co- put forward a proposal to them in a letter to Ducey the game.'" "You're not going to win
founder Noah Karvelis said raise salaries 20 percent by asking for a meeting, and Tammy Custis has been just because of your social
social media has been "in- 2020 and the voting was appeared in a video on acting as a site liaison for media or anything online,
credibly vital." He said the scheduled to end Thursday. the Facebook page. Arizona Educators at the but you're not going to win
first #RedforEd demonstra- The online genesis of the Ar- He called Arizona Educa- school where she teaches without it," she said.q