# @macjournalism on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DIfoHHIAp7k
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/29489845-macjournalism-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b8a40f0585.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-16T04:32:48.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** McCallum Journalism (@macjournalism) — https://gondola.cc/macjournalism

## Caption

A crowd in excess of 3,000 people, according to the event organizers, attended the Save Our Schools Rally on Saturday April 5, at the south steps of the Texas State Capitol. Ralliers joined together to support issues including increased school funding, stopping the voucher bill and a raise in the basic allotment.

The morning began with rally attendees marching around the Capitol building chanting “Whose schools? Our schools!” 

McCallum English teacher Amy Smith was one of the many educators who participated in the rally. After seeing the crowd of people and some familiar faces, Smith was reminded why the work she does every day—and what she was doing at the Capitol—is so important.

“I was very overwhelmed at first,” she said. “I show up to teach every day because I care about this. I show up because I really like what I do, and I really believe in what I do. I was so emotional about the rally because I believe so strongly in public education.”

Smith has been a teacher for over 35 years and is currently in Austin ISD, a district that has a $100 million budget deficit. She is concerned that the attention focused on “school choice” and the possible passing of the voucher bill this session will negatively affect public schools.

“I feel so strongly about the issue of not taking money away from and services away from public schools. It makes me really angry that [Gov. Greg] Abbott wants to take money away from the neediest children,” she said.

Like many opponents of vouchers, Smith believes that vouchers will negatively affect poorer students because the value of each voucher will not be enough to cover private school tuition fully and that students with special needs will be hurt by vouchers because private schools can have selective admissions.

The rally and public outcry about vouchers comes to a head in the Texas House tomorrow when floor debate on the voucher bill, Senate Bill 2, will be heard. Stay tuned to this feed for coverage of what happens tomorrow.

Meanwhile, you can read Lillian Gray’s complete story about the April 5 rally by clicking the first link in our bio or by visiting macshieldonline.com.

Caption and photos by Gray.

#vouchers #allotment

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vouchers, allotment

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