---

By Amy Sieckmann
May 14, 2003

   MONTGOMERY — Seventeen-year-old Robert Fultz is tired of being packed into bigger classes. Sixteen-year-old Nieves Wood is fed up with learning in a trailer, and Ginger Fish, 17, would like to attend a school that offers at least one art class.

   Having watched the problems at their school worsen in the past years, the three joined nearly 600 other students Tuesday for a protest on the Capitol steps.

   Most aren’t yet old enough to vote, but they wanted their voices heard.

   “I think we need a change,” Fultz said.

   The students gathered only minutes after Gov. Bob Riley stood on the same spot and announced his plan to fix the state’s money woes, including education budget shortfalls. Riley said he planned to release a package of more than 20 bills to increase revenues by about $1.2 billion.

   Riley spoke to a women’s group and has yet to unveil any of the bills. He was already pressing for public support.

   “I’m not going to ask people to fund a system that doesn’t work,” he said. “I’m not going to ask people to fund the largest tax increase in history without reform.”

   Riley told the women that if they want to see their daughters and children grow up in a world-class system with the country’s No. 1 schools, they need to support his proposals.

   Those words did not reach the students. Many were disappointed that they didn’t see any lawmakers at their protest. Kathy Bowden, head of the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, which joined the student effort, said the group had not personally invited any legislators.

   But several students said they would have liked to see some show up.

   “I know we cannot vote now, but by the time they try to reform the constitution we will be able to,” said Courtney Little, 17.

   The protest was organized when a 10th-grade class at Holtville High School that was studying the constitution decided to make its views on reform heard. Bowden said ACCR heard the news and asked if they could spread the word. Campaign for Alabama leader, Bill O’Connor, who is working with the governor to push for tax reform, addressed the students as well. The Alabama Education Association provided lunch.

   The main concern of the group, however, was not necessarily what Riley or any interest group was doing, but rather the troubles in their schools.

   Most students complained that teachers already are stretched too thin to help them at school.

   “Our classrooms are packed,” said Wesley Croy, 17.

   “And they are saying they may put as many as 40 of us in a class next year,” added his friend, Fultz. “We already have 35 in a class, now.”

   Fish said he just wanted an art class and maybe a music class or two at his school.

   “We could use a few more extracurricular activities,” he said.

   Wood said she was worried about her mother’s job as a teacher, as well as possible cuts in programs at her school. She plays on the school’ s volleyball team and is concerned a loss in funding could hurt it.

   Little said raising taxes to help her school is the answer. She said she works after school and knows friends’ parents who have a hard time paying taxes, but the schools need it.

   “I pay taxes to go to school too, and it wouldn’t bother me to pay more,” she said.

Return to: Constitutional Reform ~ In the News
Return to: Editorial Index