Recently, Henry Darby, the principal at North Charleston High School in South Carolina, has been recognized for his dedication to his students. After learning that his students and teachers were unable to afford the school supplies needed for their classrooms, Darby began working at the local Walmart three nights a week. Each paycheck he earns, he donates towards school supplies for students and teachers.
Even though this is a heartwarming story about a man taking a step to help those in need, it also exposes the flaws in the education system and a problem with low teacher salaries.
Senior English education major Ashley Moore said, “It is sad that teachers work a second job to get their students the supplies they need, and this article shows us just how hard it is to be a teacher and how much some educators care about their students.”
According to the South Carolina Department of Education, a first-year teacher only obtaining a bachelor’s degree will make an average salary between $28,190 and $35,000 annually. The salary amount earned can increase as teachers spend more time working in the field and by obtaining higher degrees.
It is not uncommon for teachers to regularly buy supplies for their students and classrooms with money from their own pockets. Some districts allow their teachers a small allowance at the beginning of the year to buy various materials for their classrooms, and teachers are able to buy whatever they feel will be necessary for that school year. Due to low funding from the state, this is not always possible for each school district.
For years there has been a push for teachers to get a raise in their salary. In May of 2019, over 10,000 South Carolina teachers protested outside the State House to fight for higher wages. The openness of opposing opinions on this subject is becoming more frequent. Sophomore international business major Sam Jones said that she believes with more extensive education teachers will begin receiving more pay.
Even though there has been a constant push from teachers to get the deserved earnings, there is currently no information concerning the possibility of the wages increasing.
However, with an educator in the White House, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, we may begin to see more advocacy for educators and possibly positive changes to the education system.
“I really hope that teachers finally get the salary they deserve,” senior sports management major Isaiah DeSantis said. “Because the care and effort they put in translates to the students and how much they care to do better and how much they want to learn.”
Until teachers get recognition through increased salaries, it is necessary for people to continue to support and advocate for teachers. Singing petitions on Change.org can be a way to advocate for teachers, as can be making donations to local teachers or through GoFundMe pages.
“I think college students can become advocates to support teachers,” Moore said. “They can do this by attending school board meetings, posting on social media, and by listening to what teachers and future teachers have to say.”
Photo courtesy of CCSD
