By Renee O’Connor, Opinion Editor
Regardless of where you lie on the political spectrum, many dislike Ryan Walters. Whether it’s his insane political legislature, or his new methods he has tried to implement in every school in the state that’s turned you away, people have voice many reasons to dislike him.
Ryan Walters, Oklahoma State Superintendent, has decided that instead of targeting public schools, he has a new enemy; teachers’ unions. According to The Oklahoman, Walters is starting a new “professional organization” called the Teacher’s Freedom Alliance, a far-right anti-labor union think tank.
Now, I could beat the long-dead horse by saying that having teachers teach from the bible, requiring schools to play a video of him praying for Trump, or trying to get schools to report the immigration status of students’ and their families is bad. Which, it is.
Instead, let’s discuss this Teacher’s “Freedom” Alliance and labor unions. According to The Oklahoman, Walters claims that he’s going to “destroy teachers’ unions”, and he will “build an army of teachers to defeat the teachers’ union once and for all.”
As stated by workcenter.gov, unions are a group of two or more employees who “join together to advance common interests such as wages, benefits, schedules and other employment terms and conditions.” A few examples include retirement benefits, liveable wages, health insurance, and vacation days.
As I’ve advanced in my political education, I would have never guessed that the idea of a labor union would be considered political. Having a labor union makes employees feel as though they can exercise their right to freedom of speech, and advocate for liveable working conditions.
Walters fighting against these teacher unions is a clear example of the extremeist far-right being so incredibly out of touch with the working class. These unions are essential to a work environment.
With costs of living rising, advocating for higher wages now, more than ever, is so important. All of the causes that unions are advocating for are so that these teachers can live comfortably. Should advocating for retirement benefits be political?
I come from a long line of teachers, going as far back as my great-grandmother. The idea of my family, as well as others, being stripped from their right to advocate makes me sick. My grandfather, Tim O’Connor, is the president of the Central Oklahoma Labor Federation. I am so incredibly proud of him and I am certain that as long as he is around, labor unions will be accessible here in Oklahoma.
Living comfortably, and furthermore, fighting for it, should not be up for debate. These unions are fighting for basic employee rights that they should never be stripped from.
Ryan Walters resigning is a huge step for Oklahoma Education, maybe we’ll even bounce back up to 47th in education. This should be celebrated, and the last thing I want to do is rain on anyone’s parade. Trust me, I can hardly contain my joy.
However, Ryan Walters is not dissapearing. I really hope this so-called Teacher’s Freedom Allaince is a non-issue and we never have to hear from him again. I do know that the next State Superintendent can’t do anything Walters hasn’t already done. Right?
With people like Walters, we have to continue to fight. In these terrifying times, it is crucial to advocate for your rights. Now more than ever.
You have a voice, you have to use it. And that’s exactly what people like Walters are afraid of.