Red For ED
Teachers Protest for the Betterment of our Schools
April 3, 2018
On March 29 from 6:30 to 7:00 a.m., many of our beloved teachers stood for the funding of schools and more pay for the many men and women who work long, hard hours, day in and night out with very little pay.
“I want to raise awareness within our community of the lack of support we receive from the State of Arizona. We want to increase teacher salaries but are also concerned about per pupil spending, class sizes, unfair financial support of charter schools, and how education in AZ compares to other states. Many of our teachers work two to three jobs even with the amount of stress they have already because they can’t make ends meet with just one teacher income.” said Gloria Roberts, Early Childhood Education & Clothing Construction teacher of over 30 years.
“Education is not funded properly in Arizona. We are at the bottom of the barrel as far as that goes. This is not only not fair to our students, who have to use old textbooks and be in large classes, but it’s not fair to our educators, who have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. It’s long past time for a change. I stood outside the school this morning to help make parents and students aware of what we are hoping to change. Hopefully, community members will stand with us.” commented Donna Carrier, HHS Spanish teacher of over 25 years.
Photo by Talon Staff
Staff and Teachers stand outside the front of HHS on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.
“There are months I scrape by and I know I am not alone. I am tired of hearing [about] teachers and staff who have to work second jobs in order to make ends meet,” said Laura Hardy, English and Digital Communications teacher at Highland.
The protest stood for the sizing of rooms and the ability to get one on one time in a class of 30 to 35 students. “The decreased funding has led to larger class sizes, increased teacher duties, lack of resources for materials, not to mention the reduction in support staff and general maintenance that help keep the school buildings functioning.” said Kacie Van Cleave, English teacher.
It is more than just needing more to get by as a teacher; the protest is also about schools being funded better. Dinah Guy, Registration Coordinator is in her 18th year in education. “I want our schools funded properly so I don’t have to keep putting 35 or more kids in classes. It kills me when I have to do that to my teachers. I want all educators to be paid appropriately so they don’t have to work 2 or 3 jobs. I am a proud parent of a 4th grade teacher, and I want her to be able to stay in this profession that she loves.” said Guy. And more and more we hear of things like teacher shortages, lack of resources, and over-crowded classrooms. Now, staff and teachers are taking a stand.
They stood to be the voice of many scared teachers and staff and to show their dedication and love for their students.
They stood for the quality of our schools and how entertainment is valued over education.
They stood for the value of their students’ education and futures, for the people who have the ability to change the world for the better.
They stand each and everyday for the advancement of everyone’s future.
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Shame On You..I like so many where in complete support of you, until we educated ourselves. This is Arizona, and many of us trade wage benefits for the benefits of living here. I can make 15/25% more in many states but love Arizona. All we hear on news is 20% raise..and we accept that as a reasonable demand, but noone ever gets everything they want when they want it. This is true for us all. . I’m not political at all, but obviously you are. Your teachers so should be smarter than I am. If I wanted a 10% raise..Id ask for 20 to leave room for bargaining, which I am sure you did and none expected the governor to meet that whole goal. And he did or at least is making an effort..which is more than anyone would of thought would happen. And you walk away, and threaten to strike anyways. Weve also noticed this is election year coming, and the fact that in every speech its governor this and that. Why just him? Why not the whole legislature, many of whom have helped put you in this position. Why not partner with him and say OK..Hes on our side now what about the rest of you?? I will say why. Your political and obviously being manipulated or willingly led by the democratic party..you make up 25 % of the teachers true force,led by a provisional teacher at best, and pretending to be the voice of all.Most of all us would of said great governor, lets find the way to make this happen, work with us and we will work with you. But you can’t, because if you did, he would come out looking like an honest man trying to do the right thing and that would cost the democrats the political race.
I’m an uneducated, hardworking craftsman and I can figure this out, which means soon many others will also. Dont speak of doing this for children anymore…that makes me angry. I have 4 nieces and nephews in the system and had to sit down and explain to them why I went from being 100% for them to nearly 100% against. If it went to vote, Id vote no.
I 100% agree with you Dan Broesder.