Q: Why are we doing this?
A: Because teachers are underpaid for how much work they do for the future generations and building up the communities that is in our world.
Q: Who are you?
A: We are a group of kids realizing how bad teachers are paid, and would like to make an impact.
Q: How much do teachers get paid in seattle?
A: $44,000-91,000 dollars yearly.
You should protest for better wages for teachers.
Every year the Seattle teacher's union’s contract is up for renewal they face the same criticism and backlash. Being told they are selfish for preventing children from going to school for an astonishing week, just so they can pad their pockets full of extra money they don’t need. One thing most people don’t understand about this issue is that it’s not always about the money.
In 2022 the Seattle Public School district’s start of the school year was delayed by a week, due to a strike organized by the teacher's union. The contract proposal given to the teachers by the city would have cut down on the amount of special education support teachers in classrooms, as well as providing less support for students who don’t speak English. This proposal targeted the most vulnerable group of students as a way to cut expenses. Teachers were affectively protesting to keep things the same as they were. Teachers didn’t want to be out of their classrooms, but they did it because they knew that they had to for the sake of their students. The idea that teachers are willing to be away from their classrooms just because they want more money is a harmful misconception because it doesn’t acknowledge the fact that teachers are on strike for better conditions for their students and not themselves.
The lack of support for teachers from the district and the public in the United States is the leading factor in the teacher shortage in America. Researchers has found that 86% of school districts across the United States have difficulty finding qualified teachers to teach. Special ed is one of the hardest hit departments. When it comes to this shortage, often schools can’t find qualified teachers for this role as it is, barring any potential cuts to the department in the future. With only 15% of all teachers being satisfied with their pay it’s no surprise that these numbers are so high. And when teachers have to advocate for their students and themselves at the picket line they usually have to settle for better conditions for students rather than getting better wages for themselves.
With the issues that seem to be piling onto teachers what will the future of education look like? Will there be enough teachers to teach every subject? Will there be enough support in the classroom for special needs students to get the support they need? Will there be the teachers be hired off of qualification, or off of necessity? The only way to ensure we don’t have to worry about these questions is if we take action now. The easiest thing you can do to support this cause is to help raise public awareness, post on social media, hang up posters, talk to people about it face to face. Donate if possible, find charities that donate funds to the communities and schools that are impacted the most, which typically tend to be those with lower income. Or if you want your donations to impact your community donate to your local schools, this can reduce the amount of money teachers have to spend on classroom supplies for their students. And the most important thing for you to do is to join teachers when they strike. Just because you are not a teacher doesn’t mean you cannot help protesting for better conditions. Teachers can’t fight this battle alone they need your help.
August 31st 2025 is when the SPS teachers' current contract is due to expire. Teachers need your help to not just keep things the same but make them better. Follow the news, stay educated, and be prepared for a strike to occur and be ready to support your local teachers in any way you know how.