'Wear Red for Ed' movement marches on

The White Mountain Independent reported that teacher sick-outs closed nine schools last week to participate in a grassroots movement for higher teacher pay. #WearRedforEd sponsored the march earlier this month as teachers who left the classroom jammed a state Senate hearing in which lawmakers were considering cuts to capital gains and business property taxes — funds teachers say they need in their classrooms and their pocketbooks.

Inspired by the activism of their peers in the Valley and the momentum that helped propel a successful teacher strike in West Virginia and a looming teacher strike in Oklahoma, local teachers say they are at a breaking point.

Depending on the source of the data, teacher pay in Arizona is near or at the bottom of nationwide-rankings. Study by Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University found that Arizona has the lowest median pay in the country for elementary school teachers, and high school teacher pay ranked 49th out of the 50 states. The study also found that in Arizona, 42 percent of teachers leave the profession in the first three years.

To help educate the community, the teachers are planning several events for Wednesday, March 28. After school, teachers will staff informational tables at two locations in the community. Teachers will be on hand at the Show Low Library from 2-4 p.m., and at the Pinetop-Lakeside Library from 4-6 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the teachers will march, wearing their #WearRedforEd t-shirts.

READ: #WearRedforEd march planned for Wednesday

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