On November 9, 2023 two afternoon rallies occurred, less than 3 miles apart bringing thousands of voices chanting together, showing their support for the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT). A larger rally started on Glisan and 11th Avenue and stayed in the Pearl District. Planned with teachers in mind, this rally was similar to the others that had occurred this past week. Yet tucked away on the outskirts of downtown, by the south waterfront, another rally was happening simultaneously.
Hundreds of students and their families filled the parking lot outside of Firefighters Union Hall to partake in a youth-led rally that highlighted the many voices that are a part of Portland Public Schools. Inside Firefighters Union Hall, PAT bargaining members met to work on a new proposal to present to the district.
The event was spearheaded by PPS parents and students who wanted to show their support for their teachers outside of the loud, and potentially rambunctious, rallies.
McDaniel High School student and student liaison for the PAT, Jorge Sanchez Bautista, emceed the event. Bautista helped to introduce student speakers from schools all across the district. Students from third grade to high school seniors took the temporary stage, voicing their experiences attending various PPS schools, and above all else the dedication and love they have for their teachers.
Clara Raan, a sophomore at McDaniel High School, took the stage and described how having even just one teacher who cared changed her life, and how she feels grateful to picket alongside that teacher now.
“All of our teachers have given up their paychecks to fight for our education, and have given up countless hours picketing and rallying despite their exhausted feet and throats to challenge the status quo,” said Raan. “If that means anything to you I want you to understand that your teachers are fighting for you every single day that they step into that classroom.”
Ida B. Wells High School junior, Hayden Dennis was among the group that took to the stage. “Of all the schools I’ve been to, Wells has been the oldest and most run-down, and most uncared for,” Dennis said. “And in a district of 1.2 billion dollars you would expect more funding and newer schools.”
Before moving to Portland in 2020 Dennis lived in Ohio, and attended school in a smaller city with less funding but with schools that were better kept and newer.
“Where’s my new high school? My high school was built in 1956,” said Dennis. ”We have to go outside if it gets too hot, there are so many things that we shouldn’t have to do, this is not a learning environment, this is not an environment that anyone should have to learn in, to be in, but I have to because this is the only option I have.” Dennis made a point to also include other PPS schools older than IBW, such as Cleveland High School which was built in 1929.
Dennis was not the only individual to talk about falling apart infrastructure. Chloe Gilmore, a senior at Lincoln High School, talked about her experience before the school was remodeled. “Before my junior year, I witnessed lamps falling out of the ceilings during volleyball games, our cafeteria being used as space for multiple classrooms because our school was full to the brim, safe drinking water was scarce due to the lead and asbestos in the pipes and walls,” Gilmore said. “What kind of learning and conditions are these?”
Alongside the high school students, elementary students who clutched handwritten speeches shared their younger perspectives.
“At Richmond, we were told to be kind, respectful, responsible and safe. Let’s be kind and respectful to our teachers, let’s be responsible and try our best to make our schools safe,” a third grader from Richmond Elementary School said.
Towards the end of the rally, PAT President Angela Bonilla came outside and addressed the crowd. “We want to be back at school, we want to be back at work, we want to be with you all learning in our schools, but we want to be learning in safe clean equitable schools,” said Bonilla.
Bonilla also announced that they had just finished printing a 59-page proposal to share with the district that has both the PAT’s and the district’s priorities in mind. “We are looking forward to seeing what our district managers and the board members who are here today are bringing,” she said. “We will be passing proposals at the same time and hopefully that will lead us closer to settlement.”
Reminding the crowd why they were on strike, Bonilla said, “We will not stop fighting until we create schools that make every student and every educator feel that way; safe, like they belong, like they are cared for, and so that they have everything they need to learn,” said Bonilla, who then finished out her speech thanking the crowd of students, parents, and community members who have fought alongside the PAT and continue to do so.
The community of parents who put the rally together has started a nightly Zoom call at 8 p.m. for the duration of the strike, where they will discuss how they can support the educators on strike. They invite any PPS parent who is interested in helping to further support their educators and plan events to join a Facebook group called “Parents who Support Portland Teachers.” Parents interested in joining their Zoom meeting can also find a signup in that Facebook group.
After seven days of holding the line the PAT and their supporters are showing no signs of slowing down. Bargaining will continue over the weekend, and if no agreement is reached picketing will resume on Monday, November 13.
