American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten was like, “Yo, with the mad skills teachers have and the amount of time they put into their jobs, they could be making like 24% more cash if they were working in the private sector, you feel me?”
But she also pointed out that teachers don’t just stay in the game for the cash money. They’re all about making a real impact on the lives of kids, ya know what I’m saying?
In 2021, stats show that about 82% of American students were getting their education in public schools, according to the Census Bureau. But Weingarten dropped some truth bombs, saying there just ain’t enough teachers out there to properly serve all those millions of children.
More teachers means smaller class sizes, which gives kids a better chance to get that individualized attention they need. It’s all about making sure students are getting a well-rounded education, she said.
“If you don’t have a physics teacher because of the shortage, and kids wanna learn physics or need it for their futures, that’s gonna have a real impact on those kids,” she said. “And if there ain’t no computer science teacher, that’s gonna be a problem too, you know?”
The situation is getting even more real, though. President Trump has been signing off on executive orders that are all about getting rid of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in K-12 schools, and even axing the Department of Education altogether. The Education Department was responsible for about 13.6% of total funding for public K-12 schools in fiscal year 2022, based on the Census data.
But here’s the kicker – Trump’s asking for about $12 billion in cuts to the Education Department for fiscal year 2026, which is like 15% of its current funding. The biggest chunk of those cuts would be slashing K-12 funding by over $4.5 billion.
The White House is saying this move would help get funds directly to the states, and take away the costs of dealing with all the admin stuff and enforcing compliance. But a lot of educators, like Pringle, are feeling some type of way about it.
Pringle said teachers are already stretched thin, spending about $450 to $1,000 of their own money every year on students. She remembered hitting up the grocery store to buy supplies for her science class, and pointed out that where you live can affect how much money gets funneled into your school district.
“Teachers are out here taking money out of their own pockets when they’re already struggling, and out of their family budgets, and that’s just not cool,” she said. “This country needs to step up for its kids and provide teachers with the resources they need to do what they love.”
Pringle’s all about spreading the love back to teachers, though. She’s telling students and families to hit up their representatives and senators with letters and emails, get on social media, and personalize those gifts during Teacher Appreciation Week.
Weingarten’s also got our backs, saying that communities see the value in teachers and public schools. She’s like, “People trust teachers, yo, but they gotta have that support 365 days a year, not just on that one day.”
And there you have it, folks. Teachers are out there grinding every day, making a difference in kids’ lives, but they need that support to keep doing what they do best. Let’s show them some love.
