Stephenville citizens make a stand for accessible education

BY BROOKLYN MCKINNEY / Multimedia Journalist

Protestors gathered outside of the Erath County Courthouse on Monday, Feb. 24 to make a stand against proposed school voucher programs in Texas and President Donald Trump’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. 

The Texas Legislature is currently clashing on the issue of creating education savings accounts, a school voucher program funding the choice of enrolling students in private institutions. 

According to the Texas Tribune, the House has proposed a bill that directly connects the programs’ benefits with the funding of public schools, allocating an amount equal to 85% of what most public schools receive for each student through state and local funding to participants. The Senate’s plan provides a set amount of $10,000 for most students. 

Texas lawmakers are working together to settle these differences so they can hand the final draft to Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch advocate for school choice through these vouchers. 

 Demonstrators expressed their concerns on how a decrease in attendance and government funding at public institutions might affect the accessibility of education for those who aren’t eligible for local private schools or need special accommodation.

Pat Schipper is the Treasurer & Precinct 32 Chair for the Erath County Democratic Party Executive Committee and was present at the protest.

“I have grandchildren, one who’s special needs; public education is very important to him,” Schipper said. “The local schools struggle to have enough money. Texas schools struggle enough to have money to take care of public education, and now Donald Trump is going to get rid of the Department of Education where it’s mandated that special needs children need to be properly educated.” 

Another growing concern is how funding this program along with already struggling school districts would contribute to the teacher shortages already happening across Texas. 

Margaret Rutledge is Precinct 34 chair on the executive committee and was also at the protest.

“Teachers are doing a phenomenal job with the resources they have, but they don’t have enough help. They don’t have enough resources. They’re not paid enough,” Rutledge said. 

Stephenville residents are not only worried for academic programs, but the future of sports and fine arts as well. 

A few demonstrators held signs that said “Save small town football” to grab the attention of passersby. 

Sue Goodman is the Curator of Educations and Exhibits WK Gordon Museum at Tarleton State University.

“You take money out of the public-school pot and public schools have to cut back. Sports, something has to go besides academics, some of those programs. That’s why we tuned in on Football because ‘Friday Night Lights’ you know?” Goodman said. 

Many protestors, including Rutledge emphasize the importance of sports and other public-school programs with building tight-knit communities across Texas. 

“The reason I care is I live in a small community, Bluffdale, and if our schools are made worse, then my community suffers because people won’t move to Bluffdale. They’ll leave because schools are not they’re, they’re not good, and so my community suffers. And when my community suffers, so do I,” Rutledge said. 

Margurite Stewart, Secretary and Precint 10 Chair of the Erath County Democratic Party Executive Committee, sees a simple solution. 

“To take that money (tax dollars) and divert it so that millionaires can make tons more money because they own these private schools is wrong, 100% wrong. So I mean, if they want their vouchers fund it some other way,” Stewart said. 

People often approached protestors to ask about the messages on the signs they held, so they used these opportunities to spread awareness to the Stephenville community on the possible effects of the student voucher programs and how they can make a difference. 

“We think that in addition to standing up here protesting that if voters contact their state representatives and state senators and voice their concerns about vouchers, that might have some tiny effect,” Rutledge said.