Welcome to the EduVerse with ProfessorJBA. This series is aimed at parents and caregivers in an effort to inform them about the various roles and aspects of the educational landscape to ensure that caregivers can make informed decisions.
Parents, I want you to know that your children are worth it. We pay good money for the top of the line shoes, braces for teeth, doctors for health and wellness, game systems, and new gadgets, so making sure that teachers are well paid isn’t a bad idea.
In fact, I believe if parents pressured school boards and the state education departments across the nation, teachers would remain in the profession longer. Parents can impact the retention of teachers who actually want to be in public education and push our kids towards success.
Parents may wonder why their voices are needed to advocate for teachers to receive better pay. Parents should see their advocacy as an investment in the academic success of their children. They should be part of contributing to the narrative about the value society should have for the education profession.
Good teachers know their job is extremely valuable despite societal views. Parents should push for teachers to receive the compensation they deserve.
During the pandemic, teachers, paramedics, grocery and store clerks, gas station attendants were all valued jobs by everyone. It should not have taken a global pandemic for people to wake up and realize they couldn’t or wouldn’t do those jobs and without these jobs, everyone suffers.
Many parents working on the frontlines during the pandemic gained a deeper respect for teachers and childcare workers.
Teachers are still working on the frontlines under stress and under pressure from lawmakers, education advocates, and parents to ensure children are learning. There are only so many hours in the day and we cannot continue to expect teachers to do the job of multiple teachers and pay salaries lower than jobs that do not require a college degree.