Why the Oklahoma Teacher Walkout Matters

After graduating from ORU with a Bachelors in Music Education, I remember how excited I was to begin my teaching career.

Some of my professors had told me “teachers don’t make good money” but I didn’t really think twice about it.  You see, I had my college degree and was looking forward to helping make a difference in the lives of my students.

It wasn’t until I was a couple years into teaching, and especially after moving to Northwest Arkansas, that I truly realized how far Oklahoma was in teacher pay and school conditions.  In this blog post, I would love to share my opinion about why the Oklahoma teacher walkout matters.  To listen to the podcast episode where I talk about this exact topic, head to The Domestic Musician music education podcast.

 

Teachers are under paid

I already know what you’re thinking.  “You knew teachers didn’t get paid well when you became a teacher.”  Yes, you’re right.  But, there’s a difference between not getting paid well and receiving pretty much the equivalent of a minimum wage employee.

Several teachers, including myself, had at least one-two part time jobs outside of the regular school day.  The teacher paycheck was barely enough to cover everyday bills, and so much of our extra money was spent on getting teaching supplies for our classrooms.

 

Teaching materials are outdated

This statement right here might be the understatement of the century.  I can only speak from my personal experience about teaching materials.  When I walked into my classroom, I realized I had textbooks that were outdated by ten years.  Not only that, I had one broken drum.  That’s it.

Even if you’re frustrated with the amount of teaching materials and resources you have, here are some ideas I share in my podcast.  You can always use what you have or be creative in your teaching.  With the oldest and most outdated of textbooks, I know you have the skills in you to make lessons come alive for your students.  If you’re teaching in a low income school, here are my favorite ways to teach music.

 

The schools are rundown

Leaking ceilings, backed up work orders, broken toilets, and broken desks.  This is the reality in a lot of the Oklahoma schools.

Students should be able to come to school to learn without worrying about a building that needs tons of repairs.

 

Some teachers don’t have a budget

Like I mentioned earlier, teachers spend so much of their own money to make sure students needs are met.  Even if teachers are given a budget, it is so small that it’s just enough to buy the bare necessities.

With making a little paycheck, using our own money to buy things for our classroom, and needing to work extra jobs to support our families, a budget is a necessity that would be nice.

Besides the teacher budget, schools don’t have much of a budget either and kids aren’t getting the services they need.  Many kids fall through the crack and aren’t given an IEP because the funding simply isn’t there.

 

Lawmakers make decisions without ever stepping into our schools

I can count on one finger during my seven years of teaching in Oklahoma, that lawmakers stepped foot into my school. Yet, I remember so many times raises being denied and schools being consolidated with teachers left with massive class sizes.  In fact, my last year of teaching in Oklahoma, my school was closed.

To make decisions about our schools from the comforts of an office building will never make sense to me.

I’m honestly surprised it took this long for a walkout to take place.  Unless teachers initiate the change that needs to so desperately happen, true change will never happen.

 

Are you an Oklahoma teacher?  Or are you a teacher in another state who can relate to this blog post?  I would love to hear about it in the comments.  

P.S.  Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher?  Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!