February 23, 2018 - Charleston WV Capitol tour.

What started as a quiet day had it's ups and downs.  We left Morgantown in a little bit of rain and reached Charleston, WV to visit our 33rd State Capitol.  When we arrived, the city looked busier than usual...and it was.
Trying to find a parking spot near the Capitol, we drove down Kanawha Boulevard and were greeted by hundreds of teachers, many whom were holding signs.  Of course we had to come back through the same street to continue looking for a spot. 

Finally finding a spot several hundreds of yards away, we met up with 3 teachers and found out they were there protesting the negotiations with the PEIA (Public Employees Insurance Association) One of the first posters we saw was... "don't hurt me, I covered by PEIA".  Tom asked if this was their vacation and the answer was No, we are on strike.  The schools in West Virginia were closed for 2 days because of the strike. Still planning to visit the capitol building we saw a line of teachers at the security entrance for the building.

 Not wanting to stand in line, we went into the West Virginia State Museum right next door.  In what might seem like a timely display,  Tom noticed this quilt.  To those who might initially look and turn around, it wasn't what you might think.  This quilt was done by Ella Martin in 1933 and presented to President Roosevelt as her appreciation for his policies for Women  through the National Recovery Administration. (NRA).

Once we crossed to go into the Capitol, the previous line was gone and we quickly got through security.  Once we got to the Rotunda area, the noise had greatly intensified.  Both chambers of legislature are on different sides of the rotunda, but still on the same floor.  There was someone up front, near the door to the chamber, who was leading the cheering and jeering aimed at the legislators.

 Tom took a picture of one of the posters while Alice introduced to one of the ladies.  

  Once they found out we were teachers, she turned and told a cameraman for channel 59 news who immediately wanted to know if either one of us would speak into the camera for the news.  Nope, even though we supported the teachers, this story wasn't about us.

 Down the hall, outside the other chambers, more teachers, and more noise.

 The people that we talked to agreed that the building was beautiful, but were also agreeable that the people who worked there were not for teachers needs.

Outside was a statue commemorating West Virginia who was the first of 2 states that entered the Union during the Civil War.

Back out in front of the building where we first saw the crowd, there were more cheers for those that drove by with horns blaring and thumbs up in a show of support.

 Close to noontime, many were taking a break on the stairs or headed somewhere for lunch.

 An inscription just below the dome.

 More teachers supporting their cause.

 Although there were many teachers from all over the state, there were also children there as they had no school also.  Tom's vote for the poster of the day done by a child.

Across the Kanawha River is the University of Charleston. Would you believe that they offer Undergraduate Degrees in Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education Programs. You don't suppose they got the idea that their education doesn't matter to legislators do you.

 Although not quite the Capitol tour that we envisioned, we did see education happening.

Oh yeah, Where's Grammie? We'll try for a good picture tomorrow.

Teachers at the State Capitol