Anyone, anywhere, got there because someone taught them. Whether it is a sports player, an engineer at NASA or a member in government, they got there because of a teacher. So why do we not pay our teachers well? Why not fund our schools enough so they can perform  their best? There are schools in Oklahoma, the most recent state to organize a protest, that have to run four days a week because they cannot afford to keep the lights on for five days a week.

Among all of the teachers in the United States, the lowest 10% earn $38,180 while the highest 10% earn more than $92,920 as of 2017. In Oklahoma, there have been tax cuts, leading to cuts in education spending for the last ten years. That is what forced many schools into a four day school week and the teachers’ salary to the lowest in the states. The last raise for teachers in Oklahoma was in 2008. Not only that, but in some states they do not even have enough teachers. In Hawaii, they’re trying to fill 1,600 open spots as of 2017.

As of right now, three states have teachers that have gone on strike. West Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma are among the states and it seems that Arizona is starting to plan its own. In West Virginia, the strike lasted nine days and ended successfully, resulting in higher pay. Oklahoma is asking for higher pay and better state funding. Kentucky is asking for a raise, but are mostly focused on stopping the pension reform bill that the governor is expected to sign that would place teachers on an unsteady new ground. They also are concerned about the proposed state budget which would move a large portion of the cost of public education from the state to local jurisdictions, many of which are low on cash.

  Clearly there’s an issue here. Whether it is with pay for teachers or funding to start with or the cuts to said pay or funding, this issue must be addressed. Teachers deserve good pay. No teacher should be working part time jobs after school to make ends meet. No school should be running four days a week. No school should be using old textbooks. Something has to be done.