On Teacher Appreciation Week, union leaders say teachers are underpaid and under attack

During Teacher Appreciation Week, the focus is often on gifts and gratitude towards educators. However, union leaders emphasize that many teachers continue to experience significant financial difficulties. They face challenges such as low salaries, large class sizes, and the burden of unreimbursed expenses. The scrutiny of teaching methods and proposed federal budget cuts add to their stress. Leaders highlight the need for more teachers to improve student experience and express concerns over their welfare, underscoring the gap between current salaries and the potential earnings in the private sector.

"That's a crisis for our country. We need to have teachers," said National Education Association President Becky Pringle.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said with their skill sets and the amount of time they dedicate to their jobs, public school teachers could earn about 24% more than their current pay working in non-teaching jobs in the private sector.

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