Thousands of teachers from North and South Carolina are protesting – but not just for reasons you might think

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"I came from Germany and I had a second-grade teacher who went above and beyond," said Perry. "What she did for me was second to none, I wanted to do it for other students."

After 17 years, Perry is now a Grade 8 math and science teacher. But his dream job is tainted by a "cycle of anxiety" that drives him to consider leaving: unbearable pay, lack of academic resources, and criticism that teachers simply have to do their job without complaining. .

"There is a lack of respect for our profession," he said. "Teachers are not valued as they should."

"We are not at the end of our advocacy efforts," said Patrick Martin, a high school English teacher. "We are just starting."

Many teachers will use a personal day to protest. But there were enough absences planned to close at least five school districts on Wednesday.

"We know that teaching is a sacrifice for educators," said the SC advocacy group, for Ed. "However, not to participate in this event will only allow the educational policy cycle detrimental to continue. "

What do teachers want?

The group made several requests to legislators, including:

– 10% raises bring teachers' salaries closer to the national average. In 2017, South Carolina ranked 38th in teacher salaries, with an average salary of about $ 50,000, according to data from the National Education Association.

Why 2019 could he see another wave of teachers & # 39; strikes

Perry, a fourth-grade teacher, said he earned about $ 36,000 before taxes. After taxes, "I do not even earn $ 2,000 a month."

He has engaged additional work to pay the bills, including house cleaning and tutoring up to five hours after school.

– Prohibition of reprisals against teachers to make public policy comments. This is a major concern throughout the country, as some teachers who protested or went on strike last year claim to believe that lawmakers are retaliating.

In Oklahoma, a bill stipulated that teachers would permanently lose their certifications in order to leave. A bill in Arizona said anyone who closes a school for an event will be fined $ 5,000.

Perry said many teachers felt disrespectful, whether it was parents, community members or administrators.

"You have to sit in the classroom and stay calm and not say what you think," he said.

– More mental health counselors. This is the main reason why Martin is protesting on Wednesday.

"I started pleading for more mental health support last year after one student left Parkland, Florida to go to my school," he said.

Patrick Martin, an English teacher, says that mental health counselors are sorely lacking in schools.

This student attended high school Marjory Stoneman Douglas, where a former student is accused of killing 17 people last year.

Martin teaches English at Wando High School, the largest high school in South Carolina. He added that Mount Pleasant School has 4,200 students and a team of guidance counselors, but that only one mental health counselor is licensed.

It means "as a teacher, I'm in the front line," he said. "We could see students who are suicidal.We could ask students to write in their essays about siblings or addicted parents."

Martin said he was asking for more approved mental health counselors and that he wanted every school in South Carolina to have at least one.

"But every time, I was told that school funding was insufficient."

Teachers from North Carolina have also come out

Many teachers' grievances are shared in North Carolina, where a mass protest in Raleigh forced more than 40 school districts or charter schools to close Wednesday.

Thousands of teachers and other North Carolina school staff parade Wednesday in Raleigh.

The North Carolina Teachers' Association said teachers want to:

– More school librarians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses and other health professionals.

– A minimum wage of $ 15 for all employees of the school; a 5% increase for all non-certified staff, teachers and administrators; and a 5% cost of living adjustment for retirees.

What teachers have won and lost during their protests in 2018

– An expansion of Medicaid improve the health of our students and our families.

– Restoration of health benefits provided to retirees eliminated by the state general assembly in 2017.

– a restoration of the compensation of advanced diplomas dismantled by the General Assembly in 2013.

And just like their southern neighbors, teachers in North Carolina are seasoned protesters.

Last year, teachers rallied in Raleigh after seeing a 9.4% loss in their salary since 2009, corrected for inflation. Funding per student has not kept pace since the recession ten years ago.

On the eve of the rally, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tim Moore announced that teachers could expect average increases of 6.2 percent for the next school year. But it was not enough to stop the protest, as some teachers said they would not get an increase of 6.2%.

Where could the money come from?

SC members for Ed believe that new tax revenues could help pay for their claims – but not by increasing personal taxes.

"Currently, about 42 percent of South Carolina's goods and services are taxed," with 110 exemptions granted throughout the state, said Nicole Walker, a board member and teacher.

"We therefore believe that the first step is to review the special tax exemptions that the state has provided to companies to determine whether it is reasonable to exempt items such as materials for missile manufacturing. who are exempt in our state. "

South Carolina teachers plan second event this year

Legislators say that they are already working to improve the education and salaries of teachers.

Bill 3759 would increase the minimum wage for beginning teachers from $ 32,000 to $ 35,000. And legislators have proposed a 4% increase for other teachers.

But SC for Ed said these increases were not enough to attract and retain quality teachers. He is also concerned that HB 3759 would allow high performing schools to hire more non-certified teachersas long as they do not represent more than 25% of the teaching staff.

State superintendent Molly Spearman said she was in agreement that the education system needed to be improved, but disagreed with the protest of Wednesday's teachers. .

"I support teachers who use their voices to advocate for the necessary change," Spearman wrote in a statement. "However, I can not support teachers who are fulfilling their obligations to students, families and the thousands of bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, helpers and staff. who work hard and whose livelihood depends on how our schools function. "

Spearman said that she was already working with lawmakers this year "to increase teachers' salaries, provide additional mental health and safety resources for all students, and reduce excessive testing that takes precious time." to teaching ".

"Progress continues to be made," she said, "but there is still much work to be done."

What will happen next?

If Wednesday's protest does not produce enough change, teachers may be absent from the classrooms for much longer next year.

"We are ready to work with the legislature to avoid a long-term disruption, which will likely happen next year at this time if these needs are not met," Walker said.

Perry, the 25-year-old who had dreamed of being a teacher since childhood, now says he does not know how long he will stay in the profession if the situation does not improve.

Perry celebrates the first day of school last year.

"My anxiety level has peaked … I'm not sure I can continue to do it for 30 years," he said.

"I've had the idea of leaving the profession many times over the past three years, every time I do it … it's a guilt that can not be described. students who were hungry or abused and who were homeless, who I bought a schoolbag, I bought a meal.If I leave, who will do that? "

CNN's Tina Burnside contributed to this report.

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