Steve's+Opera+Rally+Speech

== media type="youtube" key="UEazx_VwENQ" height="480" width="853" = The following is a transcript of Steven Singer's speech at the One Pittsburgh rally at Pittsburgh Opera's headquarters on Saturday, May 12, 2012: = = =

=Who’s here to rally for education?= = =

=Do we have any teachers out here?= = =

=Do we have any Parents?= = =

=Any Students?= = =

=Do we have any members of the 99%?= = =

=Me, too.= = = =I’m Steven Singer and I have many reasons for being here tonight.= = =

=1) I’m co-founder of an education advocacy group based in Munhall called T.E.A.C.H. Our name was devised during last year’s budget battles and stands for Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt. We’ve held many rallies like this one where brave people stand up to power, we’ve held mock bake sales, attended town meetings and, yes, even picketed legislators who voted against education.= = =

=2) I also used to review the Pittsburgh Opera when I worked for Pittsburgh City Paper and the McKeesport Daily News. I remember many evenings enjoying Pittsburgh Opera’s fine productions and then criticizing them in the paper the next day. To be honest, there usually wasn’t much to criticize. We have a world-class organization here. But the opera’s decision to honor Gov. Corbett for his contributions to education - it’s their biggest blunder. I’m embarrassed for them - especially when General Manager Chris Hahn goes on television and in the papers and explains Corbett deserves this award because he stopped his fellow Republicans from cutting $16 million from the opera’s budget. Well, Chris, what has a greater impact: saving $16 million or cutting $1 billion?= = =

=I’m also here because I’m a public school teacher. I teach 8th grade Language Arts at Steel Valley Middle School. I see everyday what $1 billion in education budget cuts looks like. I see tutoring disappear, class sizes balloon, and services for our most struggling students fall by the wayside. At Steel Valley, a district of almost 2,000 students, our music program has gone from 5 teachers to 2.5. Only one of two elementary schools start new band students now. Our middle school has eliminated band and chorus. We only have lessons before and after school for those kids who are really driven. Last year, I couldn’t tell you how many kids we had in band. This year, only about 10 kids have stuck with it.= = =

=In art, we’ve gone from 4 teachers to 2.5.= =We’ve reduced offerings in middle school to basic art survey courses only. There used to be 9 art classes for middle and high school students - you could take a new art course every year. Now there are only 6 - once you take them all, there are no new art courses.= = = = = =But my biggest reason for being here is because I’m a father. My daughter is the most important person in my life. She’s only 3 years old, but I’m already teaching her how to play the piano and the guitar. She’s very musical, but my skills only go so far. I look around at what this governor and this Republican-controlled legislature are doing and ask myself, “What will be left for her?” “What opportunities will she miss because of short-sighted economic policies today?” “Can I really sit idly by as this governor gets a pat on the back for all the good work he’s doing for education?” “Can I say nothing as he stomps on my daughter’s future and throws it away?”= = =

=And to that, and to this award, and this budget, and these legislators who support it, I say once again and always:= = =

=NO!= = =

=Say it with me: save our schools!= = = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=