Wednesday 19 October 2016

2016 Election





Campaigning for the 2016 election began almost one year ago. I know that at the very beginning I didn’t know who I was voting for and I’m sure most of you didn’t either. But I did know one thing – whoever I voted for was going to support public education.

As future educators, you know this is an important election. This year, PSEA has charged us with the task of voting for a 102/26 pro-public education majority. Now, I’m sure you’re wondering, what does that even mean? Electing a 102/26 pro-public education majority means that we would be electing 102 pro-public education state representatives and 26 pro-public education state senators. This means that more than half of the state representatives and state senators would be pro-public education. How awesome would it be for us to know that the majority of lawmakers would have our backs as educators?

However, according to PSEA’s analysis, we are not quite there yet. To get to that 102/26 threshold means adding at least four more pro-public educators in the House, and four more in the Senate. We have until November 8th to have our voices heard to make this a reality.



"We don't divide legislators by their political parties; it doesn't matter if they are Democrats or Republicans. We are looking for 102 members of the House and 26 members of the Senate who will stand with students and educators.'' -Jerry Oleksiak, PSEA President

That’s right, party doesn’t matter! We as educators are responsible for more than just our personal political views when it comes to voting. We are responsible for our students and their education.

I’m sure you’re wondering, why are we so worried about legislators? What do they do to help us as educators? Let me ask you these questions in return – how do we get state funding restored to our schools? Stop attacks on public employees' pensions?  End anti-labor attacks? Limit the toxic consequences of standardized testing? We vote for pro-public education candidates!


Legislators are making key decisions about our futures in our classrooms that will affect our students. Legislators make the decisions day in and day out about what we can teach in our classrooms, how we are evaluated as teachers, what benefits we’ll receive, and the pay we earn to support our families and futures. We need to talk to our friends, families, colleagues, and teammates, and tell them their future as educators is in the hands of those who will be voting on November 8th.

In 2008, 44 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted. In the 2012 election, only 38 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted. In 2014, only 17 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted. These are extremely low numbers. This year, we need to change these numbers. We need to show everyone that we care about our futures and we care about our students. We need to VOTE! We need to let our voices be heard and we need to stand up for public education and our rights as future educators. We need to stand up for our future students and their education because after all, they are the reason we do what we love!

Whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent, on November 8th, you need to make your voice heard and vote for candidates who will see you through your future as an educator and support you as you work at a job that is so rewarding that you love!
Some of you may find yourself wondering, how am I supposed to know who to vote for?

Visit https://www.psea.org/vote/ for more information about voting and your PSEA-PACE recommended candidates.

Visit https://www.psea.org/general.aspx?id=13603 to learn more about how to elect a pro-public education majority.

Share the Schoolhouse Ballot, found at https://schoolhouseballot.com/, with your family, friends, and neighbors so they can find their pro-public education candidates. This resource is open to the non-members.

Follow Schoolhouse Ballot on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on election news, political issue briefs, candidate videos, and side-by-side comparisons.

To find out if you’re eligible to vote via absentee ballot and to download an absentee ballot, visit http://www.votespa.com/en-us/voting-and-elections/types-of-voting/Pages/Absentee-Ballot.aspx

Visit https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/ to electronically fill out an absentee ballot!


I’LL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!


-Shelby Pepmeyer
Student PSEA President