Last night I found a remarkable letter by an 11 year old girl...to the Governor! She is the precious daughter of one of MY students. I've met Mira, I love her mom, and I am grateful they allowed me to share Mira's letter with you.





" Please look me, an 11 year old student, and explain why we are not worth investing in anymore? Why are our teachers who you called heroes, are not worth investing in anymore? When did you and state leaders decide that reflecting pools, state leaders pay raises are more important than education?"





I'll be at the #LetsFixThis march and rally today. I will bring Mira's letter to share. She's who we're fighting for. She's why we must have a fair budget that supports working families and their children.





The Office of Governor Mary Fallin



2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212

Oklahoma City, OK 73105 Oklahoma State Capitol2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212Oklahoma City, OK 73105





Dear Mrs. Fallin,





My name is Mira and I’m 11 years old. I’m writing you today, because I just don’t understand what you and the other state leaders are thinking. So, I hope maybe you can give me some answers.





I attend school at Briarwood Elementary. That’s in Moore. That name may sound familiar to you because it was one of the two schools affected by the May 20, 2013 tornado. I remember that day better than any other day in my life. I was in my classroom art closest with my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Glasgow. I remember at the last minute when the teachers decided to move us from under our desks to the bathrooms and art closest. Come to find out, they did that because there was only one wall to protect us from the tornado. ONE WALL!!!!





Each day I wake up I’m thankful for my teacher. I think about the “What if”. Some students did not make it home that day to hug their mom and dad. That morning was the last time their parents saw them. Their teacher was there to try and protect them.

I remember watching you on TV making promises about storm shelters in schools and about how our teachers where heroes that day and then you decide the State can not afford shelters in all schools and that it is up to the districts to decide how to get them. You remember when you called our teachers heroes??? I do. I know they are because I was there. I’m still here. I see our teachers everyday and I’m reminded of what happened. We are healing and will continue to heal. However, the people you called heroes that day, you have kicked down to pad your pockets!!!





rd grade. Thank you. By what your office and other State Leaders are doing is killing public education. I’ve heard you speak about how kids are the future of Oklahoma but yet you and all the state leaders keep cutting school budgets!! Why???? Do you really need a reflecting pool so bad that it was worth cutting education for and not making us your future anymore? Moore Public Schools is hit with a $10 million budget cut. I know this because I read the letter that went home to my mom. Thank goodness I can read right! Yeah, I passed that test in 3grade. Thank you. By what your office and other State Leaders are doing is killing public education. I’ve heard you speak about how kids are the future of Oklahoma but yet you and all the state leaders keep cutting school budgets!! Why???? Do you really need a reflecting pool so bad that it was worth cutting education for and not making us your future anymore?





Do you realize that by all the crazy state school testing, you have created students (me included) who love school, not want to go because we are so stressed out over stupid testing. I say stupid because it is. I know it’s not nice to say, but it is stupid. Really, it is. Our teachers (remember, heroes) work so many extra hours preparing us for these test that they are stressed too. Now with the budget cuts, we will have less teachers but a lot more students in a class.





SUPPLIES TO TEACH!!! Oh, and don’t forget our teachers have to do more work for less money. They pay out of their own pockets for some supplies in their class room. That’s crazy. Teachers only make $35,000 a year. Ok, I know the salary may be a little off, but not by much. You and state leaders are excepting teachers (remember, heroes) to live off of $35,000 a year? Wait, and pay for food, housing, insurance, and whatever else they need. Oh wait, I forgot you want them to pay for!!!





So, I guess my question is what are you doing??? When did students (remember, “Future of Oklahoma”) and our teachers (heroes) and education became a stepping stone for you guys? I’m 11 years old and I know something is not right. I really think that instead of you and state leaders fighting for the 10 Commandants to be put on the capitol grounds, you should put them on your desk and read them every day and actually comprehend (big word, I know) what they really mean.

Please look me, an 11 year old student, and explain why we are not worth investing in anymore? Why are our teachers who you called heroes, are not worth investing in anymore? When did you and state leaders decide that reflecting pools, state leaders pay raises are more important than education?





Sincerely,

Mira

th grade student grade student

Briarwood Elementary



