The day after Wendy Davis secured the Democratic nomination for Governor of Texas, she spoke to a packed house at SXSWEdu. Although Davis became an international political star this past summer when she filibustered anti-abortion legislation, she first took to the political spotlight during a different filibuster.
In 2011, there were $5 billion worth of budget cuts on the table for education in Texas. Davis completed a filibuster that day, stopping the bill, although Governor Perry called a special session in which the budget cuts did eventually pass.
Davis’ featured session was on Great Schools: A Vision for the Future. Austin’s own Senator Kirk Watson introduced Davis to the standing room only crowd.
Davis started her talk with her background in education. She talked about the $5 billion in cuts that had been made to the education budget, and how during the next legislative session she got $3.4 billion of those cuts added back. She also talked about her personal education.
After slamming her opponent, Greg Abbott, for defending the education budget cuts, Davis went on to talk specifics of her four plank plan for Texas’ educational future. She started with teachers.
Davis talked extensively about teachers with moderator Linda Lorelle. “I think it’s time for Texans to show their respect for what teachers are doing,” Davis said.
Davis also added a personal anecdote about her time spent teaching: “I taught one class at TCU. One semester. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Lorelle moved the conversation forward, covering a variety of educational topics. They discussed the validity of standardized tests, and Davis’ opposition to testing for testing’s sake.
Davis and Lorelle also discussed higher education and how the state needed to step up and take their share of responsibility in helping kids go to college.
Lorelle also asked about the role of technology in the classroom. Although Davis joked that she is technologically deficient, she said she would bring in technological experts to advise her for putting technology into classrooms.
Davis closed with a rousing appeal to why Texans should think of her as the education candidate. Her impassioned plea brought loud cheers and applause from the crowd.