After a momentous year in which numerous teachers walked out of their classrooms to voice their concerns over low salaries and insufficient education funding, as well as many of them running for political positions, education organizers are now pondering what comes next. Last spring, spontaneous teacher walkouts took place in six states, with Facebook playing a prominent role in mobilizing teachers. Rather than being driven by teachers’ unions, these walkouts were mainly grassroots movements, with tens of thousands of teachers using social media to organize themselves. However, experts caution that social media is not a reliable platform for long-term organizing. Now that the strikes are over and the midterm elections have concluded, organizers will need to find new strategies to sustain the fervor of teachers. This poses a challenge as, for the most part, this terrain is uncharted.
Mark Warren, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston specializing in public policy and public affairs, states that the key question for leadership is how to build on the success of the walkouts. Organizers also need to regroup following a demanding election season, during which nearly 180 current teachers ran for state offices, with only 43 emerging victorious, according to an analysis by Education Week. Education emerged as a crucial issue across states that experienced walkouts. While teachers did achieve some victories, they fell short in several important races, including the gubernatorial contests in Arizona and Oklahoma, where candidates backed by teachers were defeated. Organizers are now contemplating their next moves for their Facebook groups, which still boast thousands of teacher members. In Oklahoma, the main grassroots group is still called "Oklahoma Teacher Walkout—The Time Is Now!" The Facebook group was launched by Alberto Morejon, a 26-year-old middle school teacher, last spring to rally teachers as they considered walking out of their classrooms to protest a decade of stagnant wages and cuts to school funding. During the nine days of school closures in April, the Facebook page served as a hub for teachers to share information. Afterward, teachers continued to flock to the group to offer recommendations for pro-education midterm candidates and engage in discussions about campaign issues leading up to the election. Five days after the election, Morejon laid out his vision for the group’s future, encouraging the 75,000 members to maintain their energy and involvement. He plans to rename the Facebook group on January 1st as "Oklahoma Teachers—The Time Is Now." With a chuckle, Morejon expressed his hope that he will never have to revert to the original name, "Oklahoma Teacher Walkout." Moving forward, he emphasized the importance of holding legislators accountable.
The Quest for Structural Transformation
While protests have been organized through social media before, most notably during the Arab Spring, it remains a relatively new strategy. Experts note that there is no set formula for sustaining a movement on Facebook. Mark Warren, who specializes in community organizing and educational reform, raises the question of whether social media-based organizations can effectively maintain connections over extended periods compared to face-to-face relationships.
Scioli acknowledged the need to return to the basics by having individual meetings with teachers in their schools, rather than relying on social media platforms like Facebook. She also recognized that some teachers may have had their concerns addressed with the 6.5 percent pay increase implemented by the Republican-controlled legislature. In these one-on-one meetings, Scioli wants to determine if teachers are satisfied with the changes and if they are willing to continue advocating for further improvements.
Although teachers in Arizona, Oklahoma, and West Virginia experienced some setbacks in their demands, they achieved significant victories. Participation in these movements has empowered teachers and allowed them to realize the influence they possess. The challenge now is how organizers can harness this energy to bring about positive change.
Following the recent election in Arizona, teacher organizers sought input from the 52,000 members of the "Arizona Educators United" Facebook group on the next steps for the movement. The teachers expressed their thoughts and legislative demands, with a focus on continued pay increases for all educators, including support staff, and greater investment in school funding. The passion among the members is evident, as many have committed to remaining committed to their cause until their demands are met.
The election served as a seamless transition for the movement in Arizona, as the teachers rallied behind candidates who promised to prioritize school funding. Although some of these candidates were unsuccessful, there were still victories, such as former teacher Kathy Hoffman being elected as Arizona’s next schools chief. Moving forward, the Facebook group will serve as a platform for organizing and holding elected officials accountable, although the exact nature of the community in the long term remains uncertain.
In Oklahoma, teachers are actively monitoring legislative developments, largely due to their engagement on social media. The next step for them is to maintain a presence at the state Capitol, ensuring that legislators know they will not give up on their cause. Furthermore, the movement is spreading to new areas, as educators in Virginia are planning a one-day rally at the state Capitol on January 28th.
