Sen. Davis fires up teachers at rally

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Hundreds of Texas teachers started their Spring Breaks in Austin trying to catch the attention of lawmakers.

Members of the Texas American Federation of Teaches came from near and far Monday to rally on the south steps of the State Capitol together in support of public schools.

"I'm teaching out a 1999 science book and the TEKS changed in 2010," said Mary Helen Cholka, a sixth grade science teacher in the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso. "We need funding. We need new stuff."

She left El Paso Sunday on a bus with around 30 other teachers. Even a flat tire did not stop them.

"This is my Spring Break and I'm here," said Cholka. "Thirteen hours on a bus and then we've got to get back on that bus and go back another 13 hours."

Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, is on a mission to restore the $5.4 billion cut from classrooms last legislative session.

"You tell [lawmakers] that our school children are more important than any road, any water resource because without an investment in our school children we might as well give up on Texas' future."

The rally came as a complete surprise to Taylor White's. He and his wife and their two sons who attend schools in the Conroe Independent School District were just dropping by the Capitol for a tour.

"It's good to see the teachers passionate and we certainly support the public education system in the state of Texas," said White. "We're very happy with our schools in The Woodlands."

The AFT is encouraging teachers who could not make the rally to make phone calls and send letters to lawmakers.