Adi Chaham week 14- Protests across Puerto Rico


On Thursday, February 3, and Friday, February 4, thousands of teachers from across cities in Puerto Rico protested for higher salaries. On these days many teachers were absent and many schools were empty of teachers. 

This protest came just days after those in charge of the bankruptcy in Puerto Rico have declared the country is no longer bankrupt and have decided to raise the salaries of teachers. Although this would increase the salaries of teachers by 27%, the teachers are asking for $3500 a month but are only getting $2200, almost a third difference. The teachers are declaring that bankruptcy can’t be used as an excuse anymore and they demand a higher raise. 

Nowadays, many teachers who work in Puerto Rico have to either buy their own supplies and materials for their classrooms or will lack materials and supplies for their classrooms. Fans or painting their classrooms are just some of the examples that teachers have to pay for since the government won’t pay for it. 

 Many teachers across Puerto Rico have to work 2-3 jobs just to pay off groceries, pay off rent and pay electricity bills. Furthermore, due to the hurricane, there was an increase in these prices as the country tried to recover. Compared to other teachers around the United States whose average public school salary is between $4000-$6000, Puerto Rican teachers get an average of about $1750 a month. Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierlussi, has announced that they have heard the protests and are working on making higher wages for teachers. 

After Corona, and seeing how much students need face-to-face education, many places are seeing the importance of learning properly, in a school, with teachers. Personally, I think teachers and professors should be getting paid more because without teachers to teach kids, kids wouldn’t go off to college and without professors in college, no one would learn how to become a doctor or a lawyer, things we need in order for our society to survive. 

What do you guys think about this protest? Should these teachers get the $3500 a month they are asking for? Should teachers' overall salaries increase? 


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-rico-hundreds-teachers-leave-classrooms-protest-higher-wages-rcna14907 

https://www.newsweek.com/tired-working-extra-jobs-puerto-rico-teachers-protest-better-pay-1676381


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