State of Teachers in America Depicted on Time Cover

Teachers rise up against underfunding and poor salaries

From Arizona to Oklahoma, public school teachers have been rising up to demand increases in salaries, benefits, and funding for public education. 

This country's full-time public school teachers are experiencing some of the worst wage stagnation of any profession, earning less on average than they did in 1990. 

In addition to poor salaries, many states are spending less and less on students, supplies, and more, forcing teachers to spend their own money on classroom necessities. 

On top of all this, many states have enacted new benchmarks for student achievement, with corresponding standardized tests, curricula changes, and evaluations of teacher performance. 

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For teachers already facing extremely underpaid salaries, the added loss of control over their classrooms has been a breaking point. 

Protests that began earlier this year are continuing as the new school year gets underway, as the fight for funding continues. According to Hope Brown, a Kentucky teacher, the fight needs to happen now or never. 

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Liz Coffman

Liz Coffman

Liz Coffman has worked in the advertising industry for over 7 years and is passionate about connecting people to the world around them through her writing. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Liz is also a professional musician, avid rock climber, hiker and adventure seeker.


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