This Is America

Children are with teachers more than their parents. We deal with everything that's a part of their environment and household experience. We deal with their short attention spans along with medical and emotional issues/disabilities. 

We speak life into them, encourage them, and discipline them. We love them. We teach beyond the standards and organized lesson plans. We teach from the heart, preparing them for the real world. The thinkers and leaders of the future have to go through us. Their interests, habits, creativity, and structure stems mainly from our influence. Yet we get paid less than people who play professionally. 

Ballplayers are getting paid substantially more than teachers is an insult. Professional dribblers, kickers, and catchers are valued more than educators. You want to talk about talent, being a team player, and making shit happen? Who is smiling with open arms at 7:30 am when pissy kids (and/or kids that haven’t bathed in days) run up to you? Who’s encouraging and making flashcards for 8th graders on a 2nd-grade reading/math level? Who has extra menstrual pads and food for unprepared students? TEACHERS. That’s the least that we do. We shouldn’t have to work two or three jobs, “rob Peter to pay Paul”, or penny-pinch just to get by. Our pay should reflect our responsibility and efforts in building a stronger tomorrow.