ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Some 5,000 teachers and their supporters rallied at the state Capitol here March 11 demanding more funding for public schools, expanded prekindergarten programs and increased teachers’ pay. Organized by the Maryland State Education Association, the action brought more than 170 busloads of protesters from across the state, many wearing red knit caps and T-shirts in solidarity with fights teachers have waged in other states.
“I have two half-day prekindergarten classes,” Andrea Fuller from James McHenry Elementary School in Lanham told the Militant. “We really need a full day to free parents from day care responsibilities.”
Fourth grade teacher Deidre Daniels from the same school said that school districts decided to allow teachers a two-hour early dismissal when they said they were going to the protest.