Ten Palmetto students, accompanied by drama teacher Elizabeth Silverio, traveled to Tallahassee on March 24 to speak their minds. Students, parents and faculty members in the Palmetto community and across the state of Florida have experienced first-hand the effects of budget cuts and economic deficits on the education system; but instead of just watching the situation worsen, these students attended the annual Rally to Tally for their opinions to be heard.
The Florida PTA organized this event, and it involved schools and community members from every corner of the state.
The group was able to listen to Miami-Dade County Superintendent of Schools, Alberto Carvalho, along with other school officials about the need to stop budget cuts. They then had the opportunity to meet with Representative Jose Felix Diaz, of District 115 (Miami-Dade).
“As students representing our school, for about forty minutes we got to pick his brain apart and ask all the questions we could think of,” senior and Student Council president Brittany Batten said.
Sophomore Jessica Tan attended the event both last year and this year, and feels that Palmetto’s repeated attendance helps make a greater overall impact.
“We have been going for so many years and the state sees that we care about our education,” Tan said.
While it may take many more years still for people involved in the education system to see the changes against budget cuts that they are looking for, the Rally to Tally has served as way for them to voice their opinions and help make an impact.
“I have been a part of many different meetings and also said my part, but nothing compared to Rally to Tally,” Batten said. “Hundreds of students all together supporting our education- that’s what will make a difference.”