'How Are We Supposed To Attract The Best And The Brightest?': Sanders Pushes For Higher Teacher Pay

Forbes Breaking News

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) spoke about teacher pay at an event on Thursday.

Transcript

00:00:00I was told to turn it on too.

00:00:03I'm privileged, you probably already still heard me.

00:00:06I'm privileged to not only represent educators, but also paraprofessionals, food service workers,

00:00:12health aid, nurses, and many more professionals who help enable our students to learn every single day.

00:00:19I want to welcome you all to the saving public education, pay teachers what they deserve town hall.

00:00:28We're joined today by over 150 teachers, paraprofessionals, education support staff, and also we are live streaming across the country today.

00:00:39We have an exciting lineup of speakers that include our teachers and education support staff from across the country.

00:00:47So many of our professionals who educate and care for our students are struggling to make a living wage.

00:00:53One job should be enough.

00:00:58And now, I am excited to introduce Senator Bernie Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

00:01:07Thank you, Senator.

00:01:08Thank you, Senator.

00:01:10Well, Nicole, thank you very much, and let me thank all of you for being here today.

00:01:28In my view, you are some of the outstanding heroines and heroes in American society today.

00:01:36The work you are doing is of enormous consequence.

00:01:43You are trying to sustain and improve the lives of our children, often under very difficult conditions.

00:01:52And you go to work every day, every year, and I thank you very much for doing that.

00:01:57Thank you very much.

00:02:28Corey O'Hara from the Boston Public Schools will be here.

00:02:32Randy Weingarten, the president of the AFT, will be here.

00:02:38And Princess Moss, the vice president of the NEA, will be here.

00:02:42So we've got your unions that represent many millions of teachers and paraprofessionals are going to be here in a moment.

00:02:50Let me just start by getting, in a sense, away from education a little bit to say that it seems to me, and I think to most Americans,

00:03:03that when we talk about the future of our country, we are talking about our children.

00:03:10And for those who proclaim great love for this country, one might think that they would be doing everything that they can be doing to improve the lives of our kids.

00:03:22And yet, in America today, the richest country in the history of the world, where we have massive income, wealth inequality, where the people on top have never, ever, ever had it so good.

00:03:38As a nation, shamefully, we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth.

00:03:48And I am quite sure that every teacher here runs into that poverty every day, right?

00:03:55I was just in northern Vermont talking to teachers there, kids coming to school hungry, not knowing whether they're going to get a decent meal during the day,

00:04:06kids coming from dysfunctional families, kids dealing with trauma every single day.

00:04:12And guess who are the people, the professionals who deal with that issue?

00:04:17You are.

00:04:18And I thank you for doing that.

00:04:20But most importantly, that should not be what's happening in America.

00:04:25We should have a generation of children who are blossoming, who are growing, who are healthy, not children who are living in poverty,

00:04:35not kids who are sleeping in cars, not kids whose parents are working two or three jobs to maintain the family.

00:04:45And further, when we talk about education and what today is about,

00:04:50we understand that as bad as the situation is right now,

00:04:57Trump's big, beautiful bill will only make a bad situation even worse.

00:05:04And again, it speaks to the absurd priorities that this administration is fostering on the American people.

00:05:19Who in their right minds thinks that when millions of our kids are living in poverty,

00:05:25that the major priority is to give a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the top 1%.

00:05:32Over $200 billion in tax breaks to the top two-tenths of 1%.

00:05:42And then at the same time, at the same time, make massive cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act

00:05:52so that approximately 15 million Americans, including families that you will interact with every day,

00:06:00are going to lose the health care that they currently have.

00:06:04Our health care system is broken.

00:06:07We're the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all people.

00:06:12That should be our goal.

00:06:13Health care is a human right not to throw 15 million people off the health care that they have.

00:06:22And then on top of that,

00:06:25this Trump legislation provides over $50 billion a year

00:06:29for vouchers to privatize education in America.

00:06:33So I think I speak for the vast, not just the people in this room,

00:06:40but the vast majority of the American people who are saying

00:06:43we should not be creating a two-tier education system in America,

00:06:48one in which we have private schools for the rich and the well-connected,

00:06:54and then we have severely underfunded public schools

00:06:58for low-income and working-class and disabled kids.

00:07:02That is not what America is supposed to be about.

00:07:08Public education has been the backbone of our democracy for a very long time.

00:07:19Public schools are the institutions that bring people together

00:07:23to learn about each other and to grow.

00:07:25So we should be strengthening and expanding our nation's public schools,

00:07:32not privatizing them so some corporations can make a lot of money off of our kids.

00:07:39Public school teachers in America today have one of the toughest,

00:07:50one of the most demanding, and one of the most underappreciated jobs in the country.

00:07:57And I have the feeling that when many of you were in college preparing to become teachers,

00:08:03you probably never, ever thought that you'd be dealing with what you're dealing with today.

00:08:07Again, I just talked to a young teacher, and I said,

00:08:09well, did you feel prepared going to college?

00:08:11She said, no.

00:08:11I never, never fully understood what I was going to have to be dealing with

00:08:16in terms of the problems that our kids are facing.

00:08:19So the first point that I want to make, well, it's about the 83rd point that I'm making,

00:08:24but maybe the most important,

00:08:28is that a civilized, democratic, humane society

00:08:33understands the importance of education.

00:08:37It's not a byword, it's not at the end of the line.

00:08:41If we are serious about the future of America and our kids,

00:08:45we put education at the top of the list,

00:08:48and we say thank you to the educators,

00:08:51and we treat them with the respect that they are due.

00:09:02Teachers today are experiencing higher levels of stress,

00:09:07and higher levels of burnout than people in most other occupations.

00:09:14Many of our kids are coming into classrooms today for a wide variety of reasons,

00:09:20including poverty and the economic stress that their families are experiencing.

00:09:26These kids are coming into your classrooms with emotional problems

00:09:31and anxieties that teachers in previous generations have never had to deal with.

00:09:37And I remember talking to a teacher in Vermont,

00:09:40who was teaching a foreign language,

00:09:43and what he was saying is,

00:09:44I spend more time trying to be a counselor, a mentor,

00:09:49a supporter to my kids than I do teaching what I'm supposed to be teaching.

00:09:52Is that an experience you guys deal with?

00:09:54And the result of all of that, of stress,

00:10:00is that nearly 8% of teachers leave their profession each and every year,

00:10:06double the rate in countries like Canada and countries around the world.

00:10:10According to the most recent statistics,

00:10:12over 400,000 teaching positions,

00:10:16nearly one in eight in our country are vacant today

00:10:21or are filled by teachers who are not fully certified.

00:10:25Imagine that.

00:10:27Imagine that.

00:10:28We are the richest country in the history of the world,

00:10:31and we have hundreds of thousands of vacancies,

00:10:34which means that our kids are not getting the attention and the education that they need.

00:10:38Incredibly, 44% of public school teachers are now quitting their profession within five years,

00:10:47and we know the reasons why.

00:10:49I want teachers in this country to be so proud of the work they are doing,

00:10:56winning so much respect from their communities,

00:10:58earning the kinds of salaries that they deserve.

00:11:01I want them to spend their life working in those schools,

00:11:04not having to quit because of economic and other reasons.

00:11:11Now, why are teachers leaving the profession?

00:11:14Why are so many public school teachers

00:11:17leaving the work that they, in many cases, wanted to do all of their lives?

00:11:23I suspect that many of you wanted to become teachers from when you were in school.

00:11:26Why do we have a massive shortage of teachers in our country?

00:11:32Well, there are a number of reasons,

00:11:34but one of the primary reasons is the pathetically low pay

00:11:38that teachers in America receive.

00:11:46According to the most recent statistics,

00:11:48the average starting teacher salary in America is less than $47,000 a year,

00:11:53and about one-third of all public school teachers in America

00:11:57make less than $60,000 a year.

00:12:00And I have been in school districts

00:12:03where teachers are starting at a significantly lower salary than that.

00:12:10Well, look, I don't have to go down south.

00:12:12I can go up north, too.

00:12:13I will tell you that there are rural districts

00:12:15where teachers are starting at $35,000, $40,000 a year.

00:12:19So you tell me, how are we supposed to attract the best and the brightest,

00:12:23which is what we want for our kids,

00:12:26into the teaching profession on salaries of just $40,000 or $45,000 a year?

00:12:33Further, and this is truly incredible,

00:12:36the average public school teacher in America today

00:12:39earns over 5% less than he or she did nearly 30 years ago

00:12:45after adjusting for inflation.

00:12:49All right?

00:12:50In other words,

00:12:51incomes of teachers are going nowhere in a hurry.

00:12:56And that's not just an economic issue.

00:12:58That is a sense of disrespect

00:13:01to one of the most important professions in our country.

00:13:06So maybe we should get our priorities right,

00:13:18and instead of giving tax breaks to billionaires

00:13:21and spending over a trillion dollars on the military,

00:13:25maybe we make sure that every teacher in America is adequately paid.

00:13:28The situation has become so absurd

00:13:38in terms of the economic priorities of professions in this country

00:13:44that, if you can believe it,

00:13:46four hedge fund managers on Wall Street

00:13:49made more money last year

00:13:51than every kindergarten teacher in America combined $120,000.

00:13:58Well, you know, I kind of think

00:14:01that teaching children, nourishing children intellectually and emotionally

00:14:07at the most important and pivotal moments in their lives

00:14:10might be more important than some hedge fund manager

00:14:13making billions of dollars.

00:14:15And further, as inadequately paid as are our public school teachers,

00:14:29our school custodians,

00:14:31our food service workers,

00:14:33and power professionals earn even less.

00:14:35So these are the folks, as you all know,

00:14:43who keep the school going, keep it clean,

00:14:45take care of the basic needs, do the repairs, feed the kids.

00:14:48Nearly 35% of paraprofessionals and school staff

00:14:52earn less than $25,000 a year.

00:14:56That is not the way you treat people who are maintaining schools.

00:15:02So if we're going to attract the best and the brightest into teaching,

00:15:06if we're going to encourage teachers to teach in underserved areas,

00:15:10if we're going to improve teacher retention and morale,

00:15:14and if we're going to improve student academic outcomes,

00:15:17then in my view, we need to pay teachers in America

00:15:20decent wages and decent benefits.

00:15:29And that is why today I am introducing the Pay Teachers Act.

00:15:42And this legislation would make sure

00:15:45that no teacher in America is paid less than $60,000.

00:15:50a year.

00:15:55It would increase wages for teachers

00:15:57who have made teaching their profession,

00:16:00those who have been on the job for 10, 20, or 30 years.

00:16:04We thank those people for their service.

00:16:06We reward those people for their continued service.

00:16:13It would ensure that no paraprofessional

00:16:16or school staff is paid less than $30 an hour.

00:16:24It would triple Title I funding,

00:16:27the major federal program that targets resources

00:16:30to high-poverty school districts.

00:16:32It would give every teacher in America

00:16:35$1,000 for classroom supplies per year.

00:16:39I cannot tell you, and I know that I don't have to tell you,

00:16:49not you,

00:16:50how many teachers in America

00:16:53struggling economically themselves

00:16:55take money out of their own pockets

00:16:57to take care of the basic needs of their classroom

00:17:01or their kids.

00:17:02So we thank you

00:17:04for your generosity

00:17:06and for your compassion.

00:17:08You should not have to do that

00:17:09in the richest country on earth.

00:17:18So, bottom line is

00:17:20we need a revolution in education.

00:17:23Most importantly,

00:17:26as a nation,

00:17:27we need to understand

00:17:28that if we are going to be a great country,

00:17:32if we're going to compete economically

00:17:33in the global economy,

00:17:35we need the best educated workforce

00:17:38in the world,

00:17:39and if we're going to maintain

00:17:41a democracy,

00:17:43we need the best educated population

00:17:46in the world.

00:17:47And that's what you are doing

00:17:48every single day.

00:17:49So the goal is not only

00:17:51to pay teachers

00:17:52what they are worth.

00:17:54It is to say that in America,

00:17:57our goal is to have the,

00:18:01is to prize education,

00:18:03is to appreciate education,

00:18:05and to certainly thank

00:18:07all of those people

00:18:08who educate our kids.

00:18:10So, thank you all very much.

00:18:17And now,

00:18:18now it is my pleasure

00:18:22to introduce a real fighter

00:18:24for education

00:18:25and for teacher,

00:18:26Senator Ed Markey

00:18:27of Massachusetts.

00:18:34Let's hear it for Bernie, huh?

00:18:38There every day,

00:18:39all day.

00:18:42Bernie fights for all

00:18:44of the people

00:18:44in our country

00:18:46every single day.

00:18:47and it is my honor

00:18:49to serve with Bernie

00:18:51insistently,

00:18:52persistently,

00:18:53consistently,

00:18:53every day.

00:18:54He's up.

00:18:54He's fighting,

00:18:55you know,

00:18:55to make sure everyone

00:18:56understands the disparities

00:18:57in our country,

00:18:59the opportunities

00:19:00which are not

00:19:01evenly distributed,

00:19:02even though people

00:19:03are working

00:19:03just as hard

00:19:04as everyone else,

00:19:06the opportunities

00:19:06are denied them.

00:19:07And we know

00:19:08that children are 20%

00:19:09of our population,

00:19:10but they're 100%

00:19:11of our future.

00:19:12And what's the key?

00:19:13The key is the teachers,

00:19:14the key are the parents,

00:19:15the key are the kids themselves.

00:19:17Are we going to invest in them?

00:19:18Are we going to give them

00:19:20the resources they need

00:19:21in order to be successful?

00:19:23And that's why

00:19:24it's great for me

00:19:25to be here

00:19:26and partnering with Bernie

00:19:28on these issues.

00:19:31And I'm honored

00:19:32to be here

00:19:33with Randy Weingarten,

00:19:35the president of the AFT.

00:19:36Man, when she takes

00:19:39the microphone,

00:19:40people back up.

00:19:41Princess Moss,

00:19:42vice president

00:19:42of the National Teachers

00:19:44Association of America.

00:19:46Princess, thank you so much.

00:19:48And educators,

00:19:50Billy Helan

00:19:52and Carol Garonskis

00:19:55and Corey O'Hare,

00:19:57thank you all

00:19:58for what you are doing

00:20:00and representing

00:20:01kind of the best

00:20:02of our nation.

00:20:03you are the backbone

00:20:04of our schools

00:20:06and our communities.

00:20:07You, the teachers,

00:20:09the paraprofessionals,

00:20:10the bus drivers,

00:20:11the custodial workers,

00:20:12speech pathologists,

00:20:13lay the foundation

00:20:14for our children's future.

00:20:17You paved the path

00:20:18for children

00:20:19to be who they are

00:20:20and reach for their dreams.

00:20:22You support students

00:20:24and parents

00:20:25and communities.

00:20:26It is about time

00:20:27we support you

00:20:29in what you do

00:20:30every single day.

00:20:32But, right now,

00:20:35too many educators

00:20:36and school workers

00:20:38are underpaid,

00:20:39undervalued,

00:20:40and overworked.

00:20:42You are asked

00:20:42to do too much

00:20:44with too little

00:20:45every single day

00:20:47of the school year.

00:20:49And I've heard

00:20:51from cafeteria workers

00:20:52who rely on SNAP

00:20:54to access healthy food.

00:20:56Technology support staff

00:20:57who can't afford Wi-Fi

00:20:59at home.

00:21:01Para-educators

00:21:02who can't afford

00:21:03to send their child

00:21:04to college.

00:21:06And that is unacceptable

00:21:07in 2025

00:21:08in the United States

00:21:09of America,

00:21:10the richest country

00:21:10in the history

00:21:11of the world.

00:21:13It is unacceptable

00:21:14that one out of every

00:21:15five paraprofessionals

00:21:16are visiting food pantries.

00:21:19It is unacceptable

00:21:20that educators

00:21:21have to choose

00:21:22between affording

00:21:23a prescription

00:21:24or paying their rent.

00:21:26educators deserve

00:21:28a livable

00:21:29and a competitive wage.

00:21:30And that's why

00:21:31I'm proud to join

00:21:32with Senator Sanders

00:21:34as a co-sponsor

00:21:35of his

00:21:36Pay Teachers Act.

00:21:38Again,

00:21:39this Congress,

00:21:40and while I am proud

00:21:42to be introducing

00:21:43my

00:21:44Pay Paraprofessionals

00:21:47and Education Support

00:21:48Staff Act,

00:21:49which we also

00:21:50have to put

00:21:51into law.

00:21:56What this bill

00:22:01would do

00:22:01is it would set

00:22:03a minimum wage

00:22:04for paraprofessionals

00:22:06and Education Support

00:22:07Staff

00:22:08in our country

00:22:09at $45,000

00:22:11a year.

00:22:13Or $30

00:22:14an hour

00:22:15for paraprofessionals

00:22:17across our country.

00:22:18And that just

00:22:19sets the bare minimum

00:22:20of a living wage

00:22:23for which states

00:22:24could go beyond.

00:22:25And we're not

00:22:26stopping there.

00:22:28My paraprofessionals

00:22:29bill of rights

00:22:29also calls for

00:22:30high quality

00:22:31and affordable

00:22:32health care,

00:22:33paid leave,

00:22:35training and

00:22:35professional development

00:22:37opportunities,

00:22:38safe staffing levels,

00:22:39healthy workplaces,

00:22:41and year-round

00:22:42security.

00:22:43because you deliver

00:22:46for your students

00:22:47day in and day out.

00:22:49Instead of delivering

00:22:50for you,

00:22:50we are watching

00:22:51Donald Trump

00:22:52and Republicans

00:22:53deliver for billionaires

00:22:54and their MAGA cult

00:22:56by cutting public school

00:22:57funding,

00:22:58policing students

00:23:00and communities

00:23:01based on where

00:23:01they're from,

00:23:02who they are,

00:23:03and making the mountain

00:23:04of true education

00:23:06justice higher

00:23:07to climb.

00:23:08I still live

00:23:10in Malden,

00:23:11Massachusetts,

00:23:12a blue-collar community,

00:23:1365,000 people.

00:23:15Last year,

00:23:15graduating class,

00:23:16Malden High School,

00:23:1725% white,

00:23:1825% black,

00:23:1925% Asian,

00:23:2125% Latino.

00:23:22Or put it another way,

00:23:24America in 2025,

00:23:26right?

00:23:26And what our future

00:23:27is going to look like.

00:23:30And we have to invest

00:23:31in them.

00:23:32So we know

00:23:34that Jeff Bezos

00:23:35doesn't need another yacht.

00:23:37Elon Musk

00:23:37doesn't need

00:23:38another house.

00:23:39Your students

00:23:40need support.

00:23:41You need fair pay.

00:23:43You need dignified

00:23:43working conditions.

00:23:45My father

00:23:45was a union leader.

00:23:47He used to say,

00:23:47Eddie,

00:23:48don't agonize,

00:23:49organize.

00:23:50And that's what teachers,

00:23:51that's what teachers

00:23:52are doing

00:23:52all across our country.

00:23:55I was a substitute teacher

00:23:56for the first year

00:23:57after graduating

00:23:59from college.

00:24:00And I could see

00:24:01the work,

00:24:01the hard work

00:24:02that teachers do.

00:24:03It's hard.

00:24:05And paraprofessionals

00:24:07are not substitutes.

00:24:09They're there every day.

00:24:10They're there

00:24:11to help you

00:24:11every single day.

00:24:13And they deserve

00:24:14the dignity,

00:24:15the respect,

00:24:15the pay,

00:24:16the health care

00:24:17that everyone

00:24:19in our society

00:24:19should receive.

00:24:21So let's keep going,

00:24:23keep organizing,

00:24:23keep working,

00:24:24keep pushing,

00:24:25keep saying no

00:24:26to billionaires,

00:24:27sellouts,

00:24:28MAGA extremists,

00:24:29and together

00:24:29we will keep fighting

00:24:31to defend

00:24:32attacks on our

00:24:32public schools,

00:24:33to protect

00:24:34your right

00:24:34to organize,

00:24:36fully fund

00:24:36public education

00:24:37for everyone,

00:24:38and guarantee

00:24:38your fair pay

00:24:40and dignified

00:24:41working conditions.

00:24:42You are the champions

00:24:43for the students

00:24:44of our nation.

00:24:45It's now time

00:24:46for us

00:24:46to be the champions

00:24:47for you.

00:24:48Thank you all so much

00:24:49for what you do

00:24:50every single day.

00:24:51See, Ed was a substitute

00:25:03teacher for one year

00:25:04and he decided

00:25:04to get an easier job

00:25:06to come to the Senate.

00:25:09All right,

00:25:09it is my pleasure

00:25:11right now

00:25:11to introduce

00:25:12Randy Weingarten

00:25:14who is the president

00:25:15of the AFD.

00:25:16Randy.

00:25:21I just,

00:25:31see,

00:25:32I am really short.

00:25:33As both

00:25:38Senator Sanders

00:25:39and Senator Markey

00:25:40were speaking,

00:25:42I can,

00:25:43no,

00:25:44I'm preaching

00:25:45to people

00:25:46who are lobbying

00:25:47all day

00:25:48and isn't it great

00:25:50right this moment

00:25:51to be an educator

00:25:53right this moment

00:25:54listening to these

00:25:56two people.

00:26:00But what I was thinking

00:26:03as they were speaking

00:26:04and as they were conveying

00:26:08a deep respect

00:26:10and gratitude

00:26:11to all of you,

00:26:13that is because

00:26:16of two things,

00:26:17how great they are

00:26:19and how great you are.

00:26:21And I want

00:26:22to express

00:26:24gratitude

00:26:25to Senator Sanders

00:26:27who is the ranking member

00:26:29on the Education

00:26:31and Workforce Committee,

00:26:32which is a really

00:26:33important committee

00:26:35in terms of the future

00:26:36of America,

00:26:37and to Senator Markey

00:26:40who put this bill

00:26:41together

00:26:42on paraprofessionals

00:26:44when people felt

00:26:45so low

00:26:46and the respect

00:26:47that people had

00:26:48initially for saying,

00:26:49for hearing

00:26:50a senator

00:26:51of the United States

00:26:52of America

00:26:53saying,

00:26:53oh,

00:26:53this is really important.

00:26:54But think about

00:26:57for you all

00:26:58how many times

00:27:00you have heard

00:27:01in meetings

00:27:03that you have been in

00:27:04where somebody says,

00:27:06oh,

00:27:06politics doesn't matter

00:27:07or why are we involved

00:27:10in politics?

00:27:12Why are we involved

00:27:13in politics?

00:27:15Think about

00:27:16and remember today.

00:27:19Remember a moment

00:27:20when two senators

00:27:21of the United States Senate

00:27:23who said that

00:27:25we understand

00:27:26how important

00:27:27education is

00:27:28and education

00:27:29is public education,

00:27:32not the trying

00:27:33to have a ripoff

00:27:35of rich folks

00:27:37taking funding

00:27:38from public schools.

00:27:40Public education

00:27:41is public education.

00:27:45Public education

00:27:47is you.

00:27:48Public education

00:27:50is what you do

00:27:51every single day

00:27:52in ways that

00:27:53almost no one

00:27:55sees it.

00:27:56But Senator Sanders

00:27:57and Senator Markey

00:27:58see it

00:27:59and they not only

00:28:00are saying

00:28:01thank you

00:28:02for your service

00:28:03to the nation,

00:28:04they are saying

00:28:06we understand

00:28:07we have to use

00:28:09politics

00:28:10to solve problems

00:28:11and these two bills

00:28:13are bills

00:28:14that are going

00:28:15to solve problems.

00:28:17So thank you.

00:28:18and they both

00:28:25spoke

00:28:26so much

00:28:27about their bills

00:28:29it feels

00:28:30very obvious

00:28:31as to what

00:28:32they are intended

00:28:33to do

00:28:34but let me say

00:28:35two more things

00:28:36about them.

00:28:38Number one,

00:28:41educators

00:28:42will do

00:28:44everything

00:28:45they can do

00:28:46regardless

00:28:47of what

00:28:48they get paid.

00:28:51Educators

00:28:51take money

00:28:52out of their pockets

00:28:54for our children

00:28:56regardless

00:28:57of what they get paid.

00:28:59We find ways

00:29:00to give kids

00:29:02coats in the winter

00:29:03regardless

00:29:04of what you get paid

00:29:06or sneak food

00:29:09regardless

00:29:10of what you get paid.

00:29:11and this

00:29:13is going

00:29:13to be harder

00:29:14next year

00:29:15because that

00:29:16big ugly bill

00:29:18is going

00:29:19to make kids

00:29:20make people

00:29:21sicker

00:29:21hungrier

00:29:23and poorer.

00:29:25So

00:29:26today

00:29:27having

00:29:29these two

00:29:30bills

00:29:30being introduced

00:29:32I can go

00:29:33through all

00:29:34the statistics

00:29:35that Senator

00:29:35Sanders did

00:29:36I'm not going

00:29:37to.

00:29:38I'm just going

00:29:39to say

00:29:39these two

00:29:40bills

00:29:40what they do

00:29:42is they send

00:29:43a message

00:29:44from sea

00:29:44to shining sea

00:29:45that it is

00:29:47important

00:29:48if a

00:29:50district

00:29:51can't fund

00:29:52this

00:29:53this is the

00:29:54role

00:29:54of the federal

00:29:55government

00:29:56to lift up

00:29:57a base

00:29:58for paraprofessionals

00:30:01to lift up

00:30:02a base

00:30:03for school

00:30:04teachers

00:30:04so it shouldn't

00:30:06depend

00:30:06on whether

00:30:07people in a

00:30:08community

00:30:09can do that.

00:30:09and number

00:30:11two

00:30:11it sends

00:30:13a message

00:30:14far and

00:30:14wide

00:30:15that education

00:30:16is a national

00:30:18goal

00:30:19and a national

00:30:20priority

00:30:20and instead

00:30:21of dismantling

00:30:23education

00:30:23this has nothing

00:30:24to do with

00:30:25whether local

00:30:26school boards

00:30:27or school districts

00:30:28should run

00:30:29education

00:30:29we believe

00:30:31they should

00:30:31but it says

00:30:33this is a national

00:30:35priority

00:30:35our students

00:30:37are a national

00:30:37priority

00:30:38education

00:30:39and public

00:30:40education

00:30:40and higher

00:30:41education

00:30:41is a national

00:30:42priority

00:30:43if we want

00:30:44to be nation

00:30:45builders

00:30:46if we want

00:30:47to have a future

00:30:47in this country

00:30:48this is a national

00:30:50priority

00:30:50and that means

00:30:52our teachers

00:30:53and our paraprofessionals

00:30:54who are the ones

00:30:56who teach kids

00:30:57they must be

00:30:58a national

00:30:59priority

00:30:59too

00:31:00and the third

00:31:02thing it says

00:31:03and Senator

00:31:07Sanders says

00:31:08this so

00:31:08well

00:31:09all of the

00:31:10time

00:31:11which is

00:31:13if

00:31:14this is a

00:31:15national

00:31:15priority

00:31:16then it means

00:31:18that the workers

00:31:19who work

00:31:20every day

00:31:21in it

00:31:22and please

00:31:22we are all

00:31:23workers

00:31:24the workers

00:31:26the profession

00:31:27that makes

00:31:28every other

00:31:30profession possible

00:31:31that we are

00:31:33entitled

00:31:34to a decent

00:31:35wage

00:31:36we are entitled

00:31:38to a pathway

00:31:39to a middle

00:31:40class wage

00:31:40so we can

00:31:42have

00:31:42a wage

00:31:43that helps

00:31:44us

00:31:45grow a family

00:31:46that helps

00:31:47us

00:31:48have the

00:31:48American dream

00:31:49that this

00:31:51is not

00:31:52we did not

00:31:54say

00:31:57we would be

00:31:59impoverished

00:32:00we did not

00:32:01take a plea

00:32:02of poverty

00:32:03when we decided

00:32:05to be teachers

00:32:06we said

00:32:07we want to do

00:32:09what we need

00:32:10to do

00:32:10to help

00:32:11our children

00:32:12soar

00:32:12and that

00:32:14requires

00:32:14us

00:32:15to be treated

00:32:16with dignity

00:32:17and respect

00:32:18thank you

00:32:19thank you very

00:32:19much

00:32:20thank you

00:32:25randy

00:32:26princess moss

00:32:32is the

00:32:33vice president

00:32:34of the national

00:32:35education

00:32:36association

00:32:36the nea

00:32:37and an elementary

00:32:38school music

00:32:39teacher in

00:32:40virginia

00:32:41princess

00:32:41well good

00:32:48afternoon

00:32:49isn't it a great

00:32:52day to be an

00:32:52educator

00:32:53it sure is

00:32:55we are as randy

00:32:56said

00:32:57we are

00:32:58the profession

00:32:59that makes

00:33:00all the other

00:33:01professions

00:33:01possible

00:33:02and i am so

00:33:03excited to be

00:33:04here

00:33:05to

00:33:06on behalf

00:33:07of the national

00:33:08education

00:33:08association

00:33:09to thank

00:33:10senator

00:33:10sanders

00:33:11and senator

00:33:11marquis

00:33:12for moving

00:33:13forward

00:33:13these two

00:33:14very very

00:33:15important

00:33:15bills

00:33:16you know

00:33:18what

00:33:18you can

00:33:20respond

00:33:20what

00:33:21it's okay

00:33:21okay

00:33:22okay

00:33:22even before

00:33:24this current

00:33:25administration

00:33:26took office

00:33:27one of the

00:33:28greatest

00:33:28challenges

00:33:29we face

00:33:30in public

00:33:30education

00:33:31is the

00:33:32staffing

00:33:33shortages

00:33:33in our

00:33:34schools

00:33:34a primary

00:33:37reason

00:33:37for the

00:33:38shortage

00:33:38is because

00:33:39teacher salaries

00:33:40continue to

00:33:42lag behind

00:33:43the pay

00:33:43of other

00:33:44college

00:33:45educated

00:33:45professionals

00:33:46our support

00:33:48staff

00:33:49continues

00:33:50to work

00:33:52and push

00:33:53and fight

00:33:54for a

00:33:55living

00:33:56wage

00:33:56the economic

00:33:58policy institute

00:33:59research shows

00:34:00that the pay

00:34:01gap

00:34:01between

00:34:02teachers

00:34:03and other

00:34:04comparable

00:34:05professionals

00:34:06continues

00:34:07to grow

00:34:08reaching

00:34:0926.6%

00:34:11in 2023

00:34:13this

00:34:14chronic

00:34:15pay

00:34:15problem

00:34:16has made

00:34:17it

00:34:18increasingly

00:34:19difficult

00:34:19to recruit

00:34:21and retain

00:34:22teachers

00:34:24and support

00:34:25staff

00:34:26and with

00:34:27the unprecedented

00:34:28attacks

00:34:29this administration

00:34:30is making

00:34:30on education

00:34:31in the

00:34:32form of

00:34:32one

00:34:33trying to

00:34:34dictate

00:34:34what we

00:34:35can learn

00:34:36two

00:34:38making our

00:34:39immigrant

00:34:39children

00:34:40fearful

00:34:40of even

00:34:41coming to

00:34:42school

00:34:43and three

00:34:44cutting the

00:34:45funding and

00:34:46programs

00:34:46our students

00:34:47need to

00:34:47have a

00:34:48well-rounded

00:34:49education

00:34:50we continue

00:34:52to address

00:34:52the pay

00:34:53inequities

00:34:54our educators

00:34:55face

00:34:55particularly

00:34:57in low

00:34:58and moderate

00:34:58income

00:34:59districts

00:34:59here's some

00:35:00interesting data

00:35:01points

00:35:0140% of

00:35:03teachers

00:35:03and 37%

00:35:05of ESPs

00:35:06that's what we

00:35:07call them

00:35:07in the NEA

00:35:08I know that's not

00:35:09what you do

00:35:10in AFT

00:35:11education support

00:35:12professionals

00:35:13paris

00:35:14custodians

00:35:15cafeteria workers

00:35:16etc

00:35:1737%

00:35:20hold more

00:35:21than one

00:35:21job

00:35:21of those

00:35:23working

00:35:23more than

00:35:24one job

00:35:24just over

00:35:26half

00:35:26or 51%

00:35:27hold an

00:35:28additional

00:35:29position

00:35:30outside of

00:35:31education

00:35:31while 43%

00:35:33have a

00:35:34position

00:35:34inside

00:35:34education

00:35:35one-third

00:35:37or 34%

00:35:38work

00:35:39their

00:35:39additional

00:35:40position

00:35:40during the

00:35:41academic

00:35:42year

00:35:42at NEA

00:35:44we have a

00:35:45saying

00:35:45and that

00:35:46is simply

00:35:47one job

00:35:48should be

00:35:49enough

00:35:50our educators

00:35:58should not

00:35:59have to

00:35:59take on

00:36:00two

00:36:00three

00:36:01four

00:36:01five

00:36:01jobs

00:36:02in order

00:36:03to make

00:36:03ends meet

00:36:04and take

00:36:04care of

00:36:05their own

00:36:05families

00:36:06and with

00:36:07the help

00:36:07of lawmakers

00:36:08like

00:36:09Senator Sanders

00:36:10and Senator

00:36:11Markey

00:36:12and others

00:36:12who stand

00:36:13with our

00:36:13students

00:36:14we will

00:36:14continue

00:36:15we will

00:36:16continue

00:36:16to demand

00:36:17that this

00:36:18nation

00:36:19find sustainable

00:36:20solutions

00:36:21for our

00:36:22students

00:36:22solutions

00:36:23that will

00:36:24allow us

00:36:25to reclaim

00:36:26to reclaim

00:36:27public education

00:36:29as a common

00:36:29good

00:36:30for the

00:36:3090%

00:36:31of students

00:36:32who attend

00:36:33public schools

00:36:33in this

00:36:34country

00:36:34and the

00:36:35educators

00:36:35and school

00:36:36staff

00:36:37who work

00:36:38with them

00:36:38each

00:36:38and every

00:36:39day

00:36:40so again

00:36:41thank all

00:36:42of you

00:36:42thank you

00:36:43Senator Sanders

00:36:44and Senator

00:36:44Markey

00:36:45onward

00:36:46it is now

00:36:51my pleasure

00:36:52to introduce

00:36:53Billy Helene

00:36:54a teacher

00:36:55who has taught

00:36:55in New Mexico

00:36:56public schools

00:36:57since 2014

00:36:58and president

00:36:59of the Rio

00:36:59Rancho

00:37:00School Employees

00:37:01Union

00:37:02Billy

00:37:02good afternoon

00:37:09AFT family

00:37:10how are you

00:37:11guys

00:37:11Senator Sanders

00:37:15Senator Markey

00:37:15and president

00:37:16Weingarten

00:37:16thank you so much

00:37:17for hosting

00:37:17this crucial

00:37:18town hall

00:37:19it's an honor

00:37:20to be here

00:37:20my name is

00:37:21Billy Helene

00:37:22as senator

00:37:22Sanders

00:37:23just introduced

00:37:23me

00:37:24I am the

00:37:24president

00:37:24of local

00:37:254933

00:37:25in Rio

00:37:26Rancho

00:37:26New Mexico

00:37:27I'm also

00:37:28a full-time

00:37:29first-grade

00:37:29teacher

00:37:29I'm not

00:37:34here just

00:37:35as an

00:37:35advocate

00:37:35but as

00:37:37someone

00:37:37living the

00:37:37reality

00:37:38of our

00:37:38education

00:37:38system

00:37:39every

00:37:39single

00:37:40day

00:37:40it's a

00:37:41fundamental

00:37:42injustice

00:37:42that the

00:37:43very people

00:37:43we entrust

00:37:44with our

00:37:44children's

00:37:45education

00:37:45and well-being

00:37:46are often

00:37:46paid so

00:37:47little

00:37:47that they

00:37:48have to

00:37:48work

00:37:48second

00:37:48or third

00:37:49jobs

00:37:49just to

00:37:50keep

00:37:50their heads

00:37:51above

00:37:51water

00:37:51this is

00:37:53where

00:37:53Senator

00:37:53Sanders

00:37:54and

00:37:54Senator

00:37:54Markey's

00:37:55bills

00:37:55come into

00:37:55play

00:37:56these

00:37:56aren't

00:37:56just

00:37:56pieces

00:37:57of

00:37:57legislation

00:37:57they are

00:37:58a vital

00:37:59acknowledgement

00:37:59of the

00:37:59immense

00:38:00value

00:38:00and

00:38:01tireless

00:38:01dedication

00:38:02of every

00:38:02individual

00:38:03who

00:38:04contributes

00:38:04to our

00:38:04student

00:38:04success

00:38:05let me

00:38:07share

00:38:07with you

00:38:07some

00:38:07exciting

00:38:08things

00:38:08that we're

00:38:08doing

00:38:09in my

00:38:09home

00:38:09state

00:38:09of

00:38:09New

00:38:10Mexico

00:38:10we have

00:38:11a

00:38:12three-tiered

00:38:12licensure

00:38:13system

00:38:13a career

00:38:14ladder

00:38:14that lets

00:38:14teachers

00:38:15advance

00:38:15from

00:38:15level

00:38:16one

00:38:16license

00:38:17to a

00:38:18level

00:38:18two

00:38:18and

00:38:18then

00:38:18a

00:38:19level

00:38:19three

00:38:19with

00:38:20corresponding

00:38:20pay

00:38:21increases

00:38:21in

00:38:232022

00:38:23it

00:38:24started

00:38:24in

00:38:242020

00:38:25but

00:38:25finally

00:38:25got

00:38:26through

00:38:26in

00:38:262022

00:38:26the

00:38:27state

00:38:27with

00:38:29also

00:38:30brought

00:38:30substantial

00:38:31pay

00:38:31raises

00:38:31a

00:38:32level

00:38:32one

00:38:32teacher

00:38:33went

00:38:33from

00:38:33a

00:38:33base

00:38:33pay

00:38:34of

00:38:34$40,000

00:38:34a year

00:38:35to

00:38:35$50,000

00:38:36a year

00:38:37level

00:38:37two

00:38:38went

00:38:38from

00:38:3850

00:38:38to

00:38:3960

00:38:39and

00:38:40a

00:38:40level

00:38:40three

00:38:40went

00:38:40from

00:38:4160

00:38:41to

00:38:4170

00:38:41it's

00:38:43even

00:38:43more

00:38:44now

00:38:44because

00:38:44of

00:38:44additional

00:38:45raises

00:38:45and

00:38:45cost

00:38:46of

00:38:46living

00:38:46adjustments

00:38:46passed

00:38:47every

00:38:47year

00:38:47New

00:38:48Mexico

00:38:48continues

00:38:49to

00:38:49support

00:38:49our

00:38:50communities

00:38:51by

00:38:51funding

00:38:51free

00:38:52childhood

00:38:52education

00:38:53free

00:38:53higher

00:38:54education

00:38:54and

00:38:55maintaining

00:38:55support

00:38:56for

00:38:59life

00:38:59examples

00:39:00from

00:39:01my

00:39:01district

00:39:01in Rio

00:39:02Rancho

00:39:02but

00:39:03I want

00:39:03you to

00:39:03bear in

00:39:04mind

00:39:04too

00:39:04that

00:39:04our

00:39:04district

00:39:04does

00:39:04a

00:39:05little

00:39:05extra

00:39:05to

00:39:05make

00:39:05sure

00:39:05people

00:39:06get

00:39:06paid

00:39:06a

00:39:06little

00:39:06more

00:39:07consider

00:39:09June

00:39:09she

00:39:10works

00:39:10at

00:39:10my

00:39:10school

00:39:10she

00:39:10used

00:39:11to

00:39:11be

00:39:11an

00:39:11education

00:39:11assistant

00:39:12and

00:39:12after

00:39:12working

00:39:12all

00:39:13day

00:39:13with

00:39:13kindergarteners

00:39:14she

00:39:14rushed

00:39:14to

00:39:15her

00:39:15second

00:39:15job

00:39:15and

00:39:16barely

00:39:16see

00:39:16her

00:39:16family

00:39:17June

00:39:18passion

00:39:18wasn't

00:39:19enough

00:39:19to

00:39:19cover

00:39:20rising

00:39:20costs

00:39:20so

00:39:21she

00:39:21went

00:39:21back

00:39:21to

00:39:22school

00:39:22New

00:39:23Mexico

00:39:23paid

00:39:24for

00:39:24her

00:39:24tuition

00:39:24and

00:39:25they

00:39:25paid

00:39:26her

00:39:26a

00:39:26$35,000

00:39:27stipend

00:39:27when

00:39:28she

00:39:28was

00:39:28in

00:39:28her

00:39:28full-time

00:39:28teacher

00:39:29residency

00:39:29as of

00:39:31last year

00:39:31she's

00:39:32now a

00:39:32first-grade

00:39:32teacher

00:39:33in my

00:39:33team

00:39:34she

00:39:35started

00:39:35as a

00:39:35level

00:39:36one

00:39:36teacher

00:39:36earning

00:39:36a

00:39:37minimum

00:39:37of

00:39:37$60,000

00:39:38a year

00:39:38and

00:39:40then

00:39:40there's

00:39:40Andy

00:39:40he's

00:39:41a

00:39:41teacher

00:39:41who

00:39:41moved

00:39:41from

00:39:42Texas

00:39:42in

00:39:422021

00:39:43his

00:39:44initial

00:39:44level

00:39:44one

00:39:44salary

00:39:45of

00:39:45$41,000

00:39:46meant

00:39:46that

00:39:47he

00:39:47and

00:39:47his

00:39:47partner

00:39:47lived

00:39:48paycheck

00:39:48to

00:39:49paycheck

00:39:49a

00:39:50minor

00:39:50emergency

00:39:51would

00:39:51have

00:39:51been

00:39:51devastating

00:39:52for

00:39:52them

00:39:52in

00:39:532022

00:39:54Andy's

00:39:54salary

00:39:55jumped

00:39:55to

00:39:55$54,000

00:39:56a

00:39:56year

00:39:56advancing

00:39:57to

00:39:57a

00:39:58level

00:39:58license

00:39:58this

00:39:58year

00:39:59meant

00:40:00that

00:40:00he

00:40:00received

00:40:01another

00:40:01significant

00:40:02raise

00:40:02to

00:40:02a

00:40:02minimum

00:40:03of

00:40:03$83,000

00:40:04a

00:40:05year

00:40:05finally

00:40:06bringing

00:40:07financial

00:40:07security

00:40:07my

00:40:09story

00:40:10is

00:40:10also

00:40:10a

00:40:10testament

00:40:11to

00:40:11the

00:40:11work

00:40:11New

00:40:11Mexico

00:40:12has

00:40:12done

00:40:12I

00:40:12was

00:40:13unpaid

00:40:13when

00:40:13I

00:40:14started

00:40:14my

00:40:14teacher

00:40:14residency

00:40:15program

00:40:15and

00:40:16as

00:40:16a

00:40:16result

00:40:16we

00:40:16almost

00:40:17lost

00:40:17our

00:40:17home

00:40:17but

00:40:18we

00:40:19hung

00:40:19in

00:40:19there

00:40:19so

00:40:19I

00:40:19could

00:40:20pursue

00:40:20my

00:40:20lifelong

00:40:20dream

00:40:21of

00:40:22teaching

00:40:22and

00:40:23I

00:40:23started

00:40:23my

00:40:24career

00:40:24in

00:40:242014

00:40:24at

00:40:25$34,000

00:40:26a

00:40:26year

00:40:26we

00:40:27still

00:40:28lived

00:40:28paycheck

00:40:28to

00:40:28paycheck

00:40:29for

00:40:29six

00:40:29years

00:40:30until

00:40:30New

00:40:30Mexico

00:40:30passed

00:40:31those

00:40:31raises

00:40:31now

00:40:32as

00:40:32a

00:40:33level

00:40:33three

00:40:33teacher

00:40:33with

00:40:34a

00:40:34master's

00:40:34degree

00:40:34and

00:40:35over

00:40:3510

00:40:35years

00:40:35of

00:40:35experience

00:40:36I

00:40:36earn

00:40:36almost

00:40:36$84,000

00:40:37a

00:40:37year

00:40:38this

00:40:43compensation

00:40:44allows

00:40:45for a

00:40:45degree

00:40:45of

00:40:45financial

00:40:46security

00:40:46that

00:40:46many

00:40:47educators

00:40:47can

00:40:47only

00:40:47dream

00:40:48of

00:40:48and

00:40:49it

00:40:49proves

00:40:49what's

00:40:50possible

00:40:50when

00:40:50states

00:40:51and

00:40:51our

00:40:51country

00:40:51invest

00:40:52in

00:40:52the

00:40:52teaching

00:40:53force

00:40:53this

00:40:54investment

00:40:55is

00:40:55also

00:40:55about

00:40:56supporting

00:40:56critical

00:40:57areas

00:40:57like

00:40:57career

00:40:57and

00:40:58technical

00:40:58education

00:40:59Rio

00:40:59Rancho

00:40:59has

00:41:00built

00:41:00a

00:41:00substantial

00:41:01and

00:41:01robust

00:41:01CTE

00:41:02program

00:41:02in

00:41:03which

00:41:03our

00:41:03CTE

00:41:04teachers

00:41:04are

00:41:04placed

00:41:04on

00:41:05that

00:41:05career

00:41:05ladder

00:41:05they

00:41:06are

00:41:06truly

00:41:07valued

00:41:07for

00:41:07the

00:41:07difference

00:41:08they

00:41:08make

00:41:08these

00:41:09moves

00:41:10in

00:41:10New

00:41:10Mexico

00:41:10aren't

00:41:10just

00:41:11a

00:41:11political

00:41:11talking

00:41:11point

00:41:12they're

00:41:12a

00:41:12real

00:41:12investment

00:41:13in

00:41:13the

00:41:13people

00:41:13who

00:41:13work

00:41:14in

00:41:14our

00:41:14schools

00:41:14it

00:41:15shows

00:41:15that

00:41:16when

00:41:16we

00:41:16value

00:41:16our

00:41:16school

00:41:16employees

00:41:17financially

00:41:17we

00:41:18value

00:41:18them

00:41:19wholly

00:41:19and

00:41:21it

00:41:21ripples

00:41:22out

00:41:22to

00:41:22improved

00:41:22education

00:41:23and

00:41:23healthier

00:41:23school

00:41:24environment

00:41:24for

00:41:24our

00:41:24kids

00:41:25these

00:41:25two

00:41:25bills

00:41:26from

00:41:26the

00:41:26senators

00:41:26are

00:41:27an

00:41:27extension

00:41:27of

00:41:27this

00:41:28essential

00:41:28principle

00:41:35thank you

00:41:39Billy

00:41:39I now

00:41:41like to

00:41:41introduce

00:41:42Carol

00:41:43Goronskis

00:41:44the

00:41:44vice

00:41:45president

00:41:45of the

00:41:45Florida

00:41:46Education

00:41:46Association

00:41:47and the

00:41:48first

00:41:48paraprofessional

00:41:49officer

00:41:50with the

00:41:50Florida

00:41:51Education

00:41:51Association

00:41:52Carol

00:41:53good

00:41:59afternoon

00:42:00as

00:42:00senator

00:42:01Sanders

00:42:01says

00:42:01my name

00:42:02is

00:42:02Carol

00:42:02Goronskis

00:42:03first

00:42:03and

00:42:04foremost

00:42:04I'm

00:42:04an

00:42:04education

00:42:05staff

00:42:05professional

00:42:06I'm

00:42:06an

00:42:06ESC

00:42:07and

00:42:07education

00:42:08special

00:42:09needs

00:42:09educator

00:42:10of

00:42:1118

00:42:11years

00:42:12in

00:42:12the

00:42:12classroom

00:42:12and

00:42:13I

00:42:14want

00:42:14to

00:42:14thank

00:42:14both

00:42:14senator

00:42:15Sanders

00:42:15senator

00:42:15Markey

00:42:16and

00:42:17president

00:42:17Weingarten

00:42:18and vice

00:42:18president

00:42:19Moss

00:42:19for having

00:42:19me

00:42:19here

00:42:20today

00:42:20this

00:42:21is

00:42:21a

00:42:21thrill

00:42:21but

00:42:22it's

00:42:22so

00:42:22needed

00:42:23I

00:42:24began

00:42:24my

00:42:24career

00:42:24in

00:42:252000

00:42:25walking

00:42:25into

00:42:26a

00:42:26classroom

00:42:26as

00:42:27a

00:42:27volunteer

00:42:27parent

00:42:28my

00:42:28child

00:42:29was

00:42:29starting

00:42:29kindergarten

00:42:29and

00:42:30I

00:42:30never

00:42:30left

00:42:30they

00:42:31finally

00:42:31said

00:42:32how do

00:42:32we

00:42:35my

00:42:36paycheck

00:42:36wasn't

00:42:37a

00:42:37concern

00:42:37to

00:42:38start

00:42:38and

00:42:39then

00:42:39it

00:42:39became

00:42:39a

00:42:39concern

00:42:40because

00:42:41making

00:42:41less

00:42:41than

00:42:41$18

00:42:42an

00:42:42hour

00:42:42my

00:42:43husband

00:42:43lost

00:42:44his

00:42:44job

00:42:44as

00:42:45an

00:42:45engineer

00:42:46and

00:42:47after

00:42:47working

00:42:48morning

00:42:48care

00:42:48afternoon

00:42:49care

00:42:49summer

00:42:50school

00:42:50and

00:42:50a

00:42:50second

00:42:51job

00:42:51at

00:42:51home

00:42:51depot

00:42:52and

00:42:52babysitting

00:42:53most

00:42:53of the

00:42:53rest

00:42:53of

00:42:53the

00:42:54summer

00:42:54I

00:42:54barely

00:42:55made

00:42:55$29,000

00:42:56take

00:42:57away

00:42:57the

00:42:57health

00:42:57insurance

00:42:58and

00:42:58the

00:42:58deductibles

00:42:59the

00:42:593%

00:43:00deal

00:43:01from

00:43:01Senator

00:43:02Scott

00:43:03then

00:43:03Governor

00:43:04Scott

00:43:04and

00:43:05I

00:43:05took

00:43:05home

00:43:05less

00:43:05than

00:43:06$16,000

00:43:06a

00:43:07year

00:43:07I

00:43:07was

00:43:08the

00:43:08one

00:43:09medical

00:43:09emergency

00:43:10away

00:43:11from

00:43:12losing

00:43:12everything

00:43:12and

00:43:13it

00:43:13happened

00:43:13in

00:43:142012

00:43:15my

00:43:15son

00:43:15was

00:43:15graduating

00:43:16high

00:43:16school

00:43:16and

00:43:17my

00:43:17husband

00:43:18lost

00:43:18his

00:43:18job

00:43:18now

00:43:19we're

00:43:19living

00:43:20on

00:43:20less

00:43:20than

00:43:20$29,000

00:43:21a

00:43:21year

00:43:22and

00:43:22I'm

00:43:22trying

00:43:22to

00:43:22keep

00:43:22my

00:43:22mortgage

00:43:23my

00:43:24health

00:43:24insurance

00:43:24my

00:43:25life

00:43:25insurance

00:43:25policies

00:43:26gas

00:43:26on

00:43:26the

00:43:26table

00:43:27and

00:43:28we

00:43:28were

00:43:29drowning

00:43:29in

00:43:29medical

00:43:30debt

00:43:30this

00:43:31bill

00:43:31will

00:43:32be

00:43:32life

00:43:33altering

00:43:34for

00:43:34hundreds

00:43:35of

00:43:35thousands

00:43:36of

00:43:36paraprofessionals

00:43:37bus drivers

00:43:38custodians

00:43:39every

00:43:40education

00:43:41staff

00:43:41professional

00:43:42in this

00:43:42country

00:43:43the

00:43:46rural

00:43:46communities

00:43:47and

00:43:48when you

00:43:48think of

00:43:49Florida

00:43:49you think

00:43:50Miami

00:43:51Fort

00:43:51Lauderdale

00:43:52Orlando

00:43:53everybody

00:43:53comes

00:43:53but the

00:43:55rest of

00:43:55our state

00:43:55is all

00:43:56rural

00:43:56agricultural

00:43:57and

00:43:58not

00:43:59driven

00:43:59by

00:44:00high

00:44:00tourism

00:44:01so

00:44:01when

00:44:02we're

00:44:02needing

00:44:02a

00:44:03second

00:44:03or

00:44:03third

00:44:03job

00:44:04it's

00:44:05not

00:44:05available

00:44:06so

00:44:06we

00:44:07are

00:44:07truly

00:44:07struggling

00:44:08and

00:44:08when

00:44:09we

00:44:09think

00:44:09we

00:44:09did

00:44:09move

00:44:09to

00:44:10$15

00:44:10an

00:44:10hour

00:44:11that

00:44:12got

00:44:12one

00:44:13job

00:44:13off

00:44:13of

00:44:13our

00:44:14plate

00:44:14one

00:44:15job

00:44:15we

00:44:15still

00:44:16work

00:44:16the

00:44:16other

00:44:16one

00:44:16or

00:44:17two

00:44:17jobs

00:44:17on

00:44:17top

00:44:18of

00:44:18it

00:44:18so

00:44:19what

00:44:19we're

00:44:20looking

00:44:20at

00:44:20is

00:44:21being

00:44:21a

00:44:22change

00:44:22of

00:44:22life

00:44:23when

00:44:24I

00:44:24think

00:44:25of

00:44:25what

00:44:25it

00:44:25would

00:44:25have

00:44:25been

00:44:26like

00:44:27to

00:44:27have

00:44:27had

00:44:27this

00:44:27opportunity

00:44:28in

00:44:282012

00:44:29and

00:44:30not

00:44:30eat

00:44:31my

00:44:31entire

00:44:31401k

00:44:32from

00:44:33a

00:44:33prior

00:44:33career

00:44:33where

00:44:34my

00:44:35husband

00:44:35took

00:44:35a

00:44:36job

00:44:36in

00:44:36Wisconsin

00:44:36and

00:44:37commuted

00:44:37for

00:44:37five

00:44:38years

00:44:38before

00:44:39I

00:44:39was

00:44:39so

00:44:39blessed

00:44:39to win

00:44:40an

00:44:40election

00:44:40at

00:44:41the

00:44:41state

00:44:41level

00:44:42this

00:44:43would

00:44:43have

00:44:43saved

00:44:44our

00:44:44lives

00:44:45and

00:44:45my

00:44:45son

00:44:46will

00:44:46tell

00:44:47you

00:44:47that

00:44:47as

00:44:47a

00:44:48child

00:44:48on

00:44:48the

00:44:48spectrum

00:44:49he

00:44:50knew

00:44:50what

00:44:50it

00:44:50was

00:44:50like

00:44:50to

00:44:51watch

00:44:51his

00:44:55spend

00:44:55a

00:44:56day

00:44:56working

00:44:56anything

00:44:56I

00:44:57could

00:44:57get

00:44:57he

00:44:58saw

00:44:58the

00:44:59struggle

00:44:59we

00:44:59were

00:44:59under

00:44:59and

00:45:00he

00:45:01couldn't

00:45:01help

00:45:01he

00:45:02wasn't

00:45:03able

00:45:03to

00:45:03help

00:45:04but

00:45:04he

00:45:04watched

00:45:05and

00:45:05did

00:45:05everything

00:45:05he

00:45:05could

00:45:06in

00:45:06our

00:45:06home

00:45:06to

00:45:07make

00:45:07it

00:45:07better

00:45:07so

00:45:08this

00:45:08bill

00:45:08senators

00:45:09thank

00:45:10you

00:45:10it

00:45:10will

00:45:11change

00:45:11our

00:45:12lives

00:45:12thank

00:45:25millions

00:45:26of

00:45:26Americans

00:45:27now

00:45:28I'd

00:45:28like

00:45:28to

00:45:28introduce

00:45:29Corey

00:45:29O'Hara

00:45:30a

00:45:30sixth

00:45:30grade

00:45:31social

00:45:31studies

00:45:32teacher

00:45:32who

00:45:33has

00:45:33taught

00:45:33in

00:45:33Boston's

00:45:34public

00:45:34schools

00:45:35since

00:45:352013

00:45:36Corey

00:45:37good afternoon

00:45:47distinguished

00:45:47colleagues

00:45:48my name

00:45:49is

00:45:50Corey

00:45:50O'Hare

00:45:50and I'm

00:45:50a proud

00:45:51member

00:45:51of the

00:45:51Boston

00:45:52Teachers

00:45:52Union

00:45:52having

00:45:55first

00:45:55joined

00:45:55the

00:45:55district

00:45:55in

00:45:562013

00:45:56I

00:45:57teach

00:45:57social

00:45:58studies

00:45:58at

00:45:58the

00:45:59Edison

00:45:59elementary

00:45:59school

00:46:00in

00:46:00Boston

00:46:00and I'm

00:46:01a

00:46:01licensed

00:46:01history

00:46:02and special

00:46:02education

00:46:03teacher

00:46:03with a

00:46:04sheltered

00:46:04English

00:46:04immersion

00:46:05endorsement

00:46:05the

00:46:06AFT

00:46:07is a

00:46:07union

00:46:08of

00:46:08professionals

00:46:08that's

00:46:09a title

00:46:10we all

00:46:10hold

00:46:10dear

00:46:11because

00:46:11to

00:46:12teach

00:46:12our

00:46:12highest

00:46:12need

00:46:13students

00:46:13those

00:46:14with

00:46:14learning

00:46:14disabilities

00:46:15those

00:46:16still

00:46:16mastering

00:46:16English

00:46:17those

00:46:17facing

00:46:18food

00:46:18insecurity

00:46:18and

00:46:19housing

00:46:19instability

00:46:19we

00:46:20need

00:46:20highly

00:46:21trained

00:46:21professional

00:46:22educators

00:46:23we

00:46:24need

00:46:24teachers

00:46:24who

00:46:25know

00:46:25how

00:46:25to

00:46:25differentiate

00:46:26instruction

00:46:26who

00:46:28understand

00:46:29trauma

00:46:29who

00:46:30adapt

00:46:30curriculum

00:46:31with both

00:46:32skill

00:46:32and care

00:46:32needed to

00:46:33meet our

00:46:33students

00:46:33where they

00:46:34are

00:46:34and we

00:46:35need a

00:46:36system

00:46:36that tells

00:46:37those

00:46:37educators

00:46:37if you

00:46:38invest

00:46:38in your

00:46:39training

00:46:39if you

00:46:40take out

00:46:40that loan

00:46:41for your

00:46:41MED

00:46:42you'll

00:46:43have a

00:46:43job

00:46:43in a

00:46:44society

00:46:44that

00:46:45respects

00:46:45your

00:46:46career

00:46:46choice

00:46:46not one

00:46:47that

00:46:48punishes

00:46:48you

00:46:48for it

00:46:49but that

00:46:50vision

00:46:51challenges

00:46:51the

00:46:51narrative

00:46:52we've

00:46:52been

00:46:52sold

00:46:52we've

00:46:53been

00:46:54told

00:46:54that

00:46:54teaching

00:46:54is

00:46:55little

00:46:55more

00:46:55than

00:46:55glorified

00:46:56babysitting

00:46:56that

00:46:57it's

00:46:57summer

00:46:57camp

00:46:58that

00:46:59it's

00:46:59not

00:46:59a

00:46:59profession

00:47:00it's

00:47:00a

00:47:00stepping

00:47:01stone

00:47:01you

00:47:02don't

00:47:03need

00:47:03training

00:47:03when you

00:47:04only rely

00:47:05on a

00:47:05scripted

00:47:06curriculum

00:47:06you do

00:47:07it for

00:47:07two

00:47:07years

00:47:08after

00:47:08college

00:47:08then go

00:47:09cash out

00:47:10in a

00:47:10cushy

00:47:10private

00:47:11sector

00:47:11gig

00:47:11this

00:47:13this

00:47:13narrative

00:47:13hasn't

00:47:14just

00:47:14sought

00:47:14to

00:47:14devalue

00:47:15our

00:47:15work

00:47:15it's

00:47:16actively

00:47:16served

00:47:17corporate

00:47:17interests

00:47:18charter

00:47:19networks

00:47:19and

00:47:20vouchered

00:47:20private

00:47:21schools

00:47:21make

00:47:21millions

00:47:22by

00:47:22underpaying

00:47:23staff

00:47:24offloading

00:47:25students

00:47:25with

00:47:25complex

00:47:25needs

00:47:26onto

00:47:26the

00:47:26public

00:47:26system

00:47:27and

00:47:27dodging

00:47:28licensure

00:47:29requirements

00:47:29by crying

00:47:30teacher

00:47:30shortage

00:47:31but let's

00:47:32be clear

00:47:33it's not

00:47:34a teacher

00:47:35shortage

00:47:35it's a

00:47:36wage

00:47:37shortage

00:47:37when the

00:47:43cost of

00:47:44an

00:47:44education

00:47:44degree

00:47:45outweighs

00:47:46the pay

00:47:47of a

00:47:47teacher's

00:47:47job

00:47:48it's no

00:47:48wonder

00:47:49our

00:47:49pipelines

00:47:49are

00:47:50drying

00:47:50up

00:47:50we

00:47:51come

00:47:52home

00:47:52exhausted

00:47:52only to

00:47:53have to

00:47:53work a

00:47:54side

00:47:54gig

00:47:54to make

00:47:54ends

00:47:55meet

00:47:55people

00:47:56aren't

00:47:56walking

00:47:57away

00:47:57from

00:47:57the

00:47:58profession

00:47:58they're

00:47:59being

00:47:59priced

00:47:59out

00:48:00of

00:48:00it

00:48:00personally

00:48:01I've

00:48:02worked

00:48:02in the

00:48:03summers

00:48:03and

00:48:03after

00:48:03school

00:48:04to be

00:48:04able

00:48:04to

00:48:04keep

00:48:04my

00:48:04head

00:48:05above

00:48:05water

00:48:05in

00:48:06Boston

00:48:06our

00:48:07membership

00:48:07recently

00:48:08fought

00:48:08a

00:48:08long

00:48:09battle

00:48:09for

00:48:09a

00:48:09fair

00:48:09contract

00:48:10and

00:48:10I'm

00:48:11proud

00:48:11to

00:48:11say

00:48:11that

00:48:12over

00:48:12three

00:48:12years

00:48:12teachers

00:48:13will

00:48:13see

00:48:13salary

00:48:13increases

00:48:14of

00:48:14nine

00:48:14to

00:48:14eleven

00:48:15percent

00:48:15ABAs

00:48:16will

00:48:16see

00:48:16increases

00:48:17of

00:48:17twenty-eight

00:48:17percent

00:48:18and

00:48:18paraprofessionals

00:48:18will

00:48:19see

00:48:19increases

00:48:19of

00:48:19twenty-three

00:48:20to

00:48:20thirty-one

00:48:20percent

00:48:21Boston

00:48:26is an

00:48:27expensive

00:48:27city

00:48:27and this

00:48:28contract

00:48:29brings us

00:48:29closer

00:48:30to a

00:48:30livable

00:48:31wage

00:48:31teaching

00:48:32is the

00:48:33most

00:48:33important

00:48:33thing

00:48:33in my

00:48:34life

00:48:34it

00:48:35is my

00:48:35privilege

00:48:35to educate

00:48:36the next

00:48:37generation

00:48:37of leaders

00:48:37in the

00:48:38city

00:48:38I love

00:48:38and it

00:48:40breaks my

00:48:40heart

00:48:40to see

00:48:41education

00:48:41departments

00:48:41across the

00:48:42country

00:48:42sitting

00:48:43half

00:48:43empty

00:48:43would-be

00:48:44teachers

00:48:45choosing

00:48:45anything

00:48:45else

00:48:46but as I

00:48:47tell my

00:48:47students

00:48:48we can

00:48:49curse

00:48:49the darkness

00:48:49or we

00:48:50can light

00:48:50a candle

00:48:51the

00:48:52pay

00:48:52teachers

00:48:53act

00:48:53championed

00:48:54by

00:48:54senator

00:48:54sanders

00:48:55and the

00:48:55pay

00:48:56paraprofessional

00:48:56and education

00:48:57support

00:48:58staff

00:48:58act

00:48:58championed

00:48:59by

00:48:59senator

00:48:59markey

00:49:00are

00:49:00candles

00:49:00it's

00:49:02recognition

00:49:02that when

00:49:03we invest

00:49:04in teachers

00:49:04we invest

00:49:05in our

00:49:05democracy

00:49:06in our

00:49:07economy

00:49:07and in

00:49:08our

00:49:08kids

00:49:08so

00:49:09contact

00:49:10your

00:49:10reps

00:49:10call

00:49:11your

00:49:11senators

00:49:12tell

00:49:13them

00:49:13this

00:49:13isn't

00:49:13charity

00:49:14it's

00:49:14infrastructure

00:49:14it's

00:49:16survival

00:49:16it's

00:49:17fairness

00:49:17and

00:49:18it's

00:49:18justice

00:49:19so

00:49:21let's

00:49:22turn up

00:49:22the

00:49:22pressure

00:49:23let's

00:49:24pass

00:49:24these

00:49:24bills

00:49:24and

00:49:25together

00:49:25let's

00:49:26light

00:49:26these

00:49:26candles

00:49:27thank

00:49:27you

00:49:27very

00:49:27much

00:49:28okay

00:49:37thank you

00:49:38thank you

00:49:39cory

00:49:39all right

00:49:40we have

00:49:41some time

00:49:42for

00:49:42some

00:49:42questions

00:49:43so let's

00:49:44jump into

00:49:45it

00:49:45who's got

00:49:45a question

00:49:46oh i

00:49:49don't

00:49:49believe

00:49:50that

00:49:50all right

00:49:52who has

00:49:52the

00:49:52there we

00:49:53go

00:49:53all right

00:49:53right here

00:49:54stand up

00:49:55stand up

00:49:55tell us

00:49:56who you

00:49:56are

00:49:56i'm

00:49:57an aspiring

00:49:58educator

00:49:59from california

00:50:02and

00:50:02with this

00:50:06administration

00:50:07there's a lot

00:50:07of us

00:50:07who are

00:50:07just

00:50:08graduating

00:50:08college

00:50:08who are

00:50:09very

00:50:09hesitant

00:50:09to go

00:50:10into

00:50:10a teaching

00:50:11career

00:50:11and i

00:50:12was wondering

00:50:12if you

00:50:12have a

00:50:13message

00:50:13that you'd

00:50:13like to

00:50:14give to

00:50:14us

00:50:14aspiring

00:50:15educators

00:50:15across

00:50:15the

00:50:15country

00:50:16well

00:50:16two

00:50:17things

00:50:17this

00:50:18administration

00:50:18ain't

00:50:19going to

00:50:19last

00:50:19forever

00:50:19and

00:50:27we're

00:50:27going to

00:50:27do

00:50:27our

00:50:28best

00:50:28next

00:50:28year

00:50:29to

00:50:29make

00:50:29sure

00:50:29that

00:50:29their

00:50:29power

00:50:30is

00:50:30significantly

00:50:31limited

00:50:31by

00:50:32taking

00:50:33away

00:50:33their

00:50:34powers

00:50:34in the

00:50:34house

00:50:35and the

00:50:35senate

00:50:35but i

00:50:39think

00:50:39the

00:50:39main

00:50:40point

00:50:40that i

00:50:40would

00:50:41make

00:50:41and i

00:50:42think

00:50:42it's

00:50:42true

00:50:42of

00:50:42every

00:50:42person

00:50:43in

00:50:44this

00:50:44room

00:50:45what

00:50:47you

00:50:47are

00:50:47choosing

00:50:47is

00:50:48to

00:50:49live

00:50:49a

00:50:49life

00:50:49in

00:50:50which

00:50:50you

00:50:50get

00:50:51your

00:50:51fulfillment

00:50:51by

00:50:52helping

00:50:52others

00:50:53and in

00:50:54some

00:50:54cases

00:50:54in this

00:50:55room

00:50:55our

00:50:57teachers

00:50:57and

00:50:57paraprofessionals

00:50:58are helping

00:50:59some

00:51:00of the

00:51:00most

00:51:00vulnerable

00:51:01people

00:51:02in

00:51:02our

00:51:03country

00:51:03children

00:51:04who

00:51:04are

00:51:04struggling

00:51:05every

00:51:05single

00:51:05day

00:51:05and

00:51:06you

00:51:06get

00:51:07satisfaction

00:51:07out of

00:51:08that

00:51:08and

00:51:09you

00:51:09choose

00:51:10to

00:51:10help

00:51:11other

00:51:11people

00:51:12and

00:51:12become

00:51:13more

00:51:13human

00:51:13by

00:51:14doing

00:51:14that

00:51:14rather

00:51:15than

00:51:15being

00:51:16some

00:51:16kind

00:51:16of

00:51:16crook

00:51:17on

00:51:17wall

00:51:17street

00:51:18manipulating

00:51:18the

00:51:19market

00:51:19so

00:51:20you

00:51:20can

00:51:20get

00:51:20rich

00:51:20this

00:51:24is a

00:51:25value

00:51:25system

00:51:26and

00:51:27the

00:51:27good

00:51:28news

00:51:28is

00:51:28that

00:51:29more

00:51:29Americans

00:51:30agree

00:51:30with

00:51:30your

00:51:31values

00:51:31than

00:51:32with

00:51:32the

00:51:32values

00:51:33that

00:51:33it's

00:51:33every

00:51:34person

00:51:34for

00:51:34themselves

00:51:35we

00:51:35gotta

00:51:35step

00:51:36on

00:51:36everybody

00:51:36we

00:51:37gotta

00:51:37lie

00:51:37we

00:51:37gotta

00:51:38cheat

00:51:38we

00:51:38gotta

00:51:38steal

00:51:39those

00:51:40are

00:51:40the

00:51:40values

00:51:41that

00:51:41most

00:51:41Americans

00:51:42believe

00:51:42and

00:51:43we

00:51:43have

00:51:43just

00:51:44got

00:51:44to

00:51:44create

00:51:44the

00:51:44kind

00:51:44of

00:51:44political

00:51:45movement

00:51:45that

00:51:46we

00:51:46need

00:51:47in

00:51:47this

00:51:47country

00:51:47that

00:51:47reflects

00:51:48those

00:51:48values

00:51:49so

00:51:49that

00:51:50education

00:51:50not

00:51:51greed

00:51:51becomes

00:51:52the

00:51:52top

00:51:52priority

00:51:53alright

00:51:58anybody

00:51:59else

00:51:59here

00:51:59want

00:52:00to

00:52:00jump

00:52:01in

00:52:01don't

00:52:02be

00:52:02shy

00:52:02to

00:52:02respond

00:52:03to

00:52:03the

00:52:03questions

00:52:03I'll

00:52:04jump

00:52:04in

00:52:04I'll

00:52:05just

00:52:05say

00:52:05our

00:52:05babies

00:52:06need

00:52:06you

00:52:07they're

00:52:07counting

00:52:08on

00:52:08you

00:52:08are

00:52:08the

00:52:09future

00:52:09so

00:52:10we

00:52:10are

00:52:10waiting

00:52:11for

00:52:11you

00:52:11and

00:52:12the

00:52:12only

00:52:12way

00:52:12to

00:52:12change

00:52:13the

00:52:13system

00:52:13is

00:52:13to

00:52:13be

00:52:14a

00:52:14part

00:52:14of

00:52:14it

00:52:14so

00:52:15welcome

00:52:15to

00:52:16the

00:52:16profession

00:52:16this bill

00:52:24is so

00:52:24important

00:52:24is that

00:52:26the

00:52:26smearing

00:52:27of

00:52:28public

00:52:29school

00:52:29teachers

00:52:30and the

00:52:32defunding

00:52:33of public

00:52:33schools

00:52:34is an

00:52:35intentional

00:52:36strategy

00:52:37because of

00:52:38a fear

00:52:39of knowledge

00:52:40and a

00:52:41fear

00:52:41of

00:52:41pluralism

00:52:42and so

00:52:44when you

00:52:45actually

00:52:46teach

00:52:46you are

00:52:48making a

00:52:48difference

00:52:49in the

00:52:50lives

00:52:51of not

00:52:52only those

00:52:52young people

00:52:53in front

00:52:53of you

00:52:54but you

00:52:55are actually

00:52:56making a

00:52:57country

00:52:57better

00:52:57and you

00:52:59are really

00:52:59nation

00:53:00builders

00:53:00in that

00:53:01kind of

00:53:02way

00:53:02it is

00:53:03a precious

00:53:04resource

00:53:04those people

00:53:06who teach

00:53:07and part

00:53:08of our

00:53:08job

00:53:09and when

00:53:09I say

00:53:10teach

00:53:10I mean

00:53:11also being

00:53:12a paraprofessional

00:53:13a bus driver

00:53:14and part

00:53:15of our

00:53:15jobs

00:53:16in some

00:53:17ways

00:53:17the two

00:53:17of us

00:53:18as union

00:53:19leaders

00:53:19just like

00:53:20part of

00:53:20the jobs

00:53:21of

00:53:21Senator

00:53:22Markey

00:53:23and Senator

00:53:24Sanders

00:53:24which is why

00:53:25I'm so

00:53:25gratefully

00:53:26wanted to

00:53:26have

00:53:26questions

00:53:27is to

00:53:29actually

00:53:30be

00:53:30that deep

00:53:31support

00:53:32so you

00:53:33have the

00:53:34agency

00:53:34that you

00:53:36need

00:53:37to soar

00:53:38yes ma'am

00:53:40right here

00:53:41stand up

00:53:41we get

00:53:43our

00:53:43wait a second

00:53:44mic is

00:53:44coming

00:53:45thank you

00:53:46is this

00:53:51better

00:53:51okay

00:53:51I'm

00:53:53Sarah

00:53:53Lerner

00:53:54I'm a

00:53:54teacher

00:53:54in

00:53:55Florida

00:53:55go

00:53:56FEA

00:53:56thank you

00:53:58I teach

00:54:00at Marjory

00:54:01Stoneman

00:54:01Douglas

00:54:02High School

00:54:02thank you

00:54:04I

00:54:06along with

00:54:07Sari Beth

00:54:07Rosenberg

00:54:08who I

00:54:08know is

00:54:09here in

00:54:09Abbey

00:54:09Clements

00:54:10we

00:54:11co-founded

00:54:11Teachers

00:54:12Unified

00:54:12to end

00:54:13gun

00:54:13violence

00:54:13I

00:54:15know

00:54:15that

00:54:16we

00:54:17used

00:54:17to have

00:54:17a

00:54:18White

00:54:18House

00:54:18office

00:54:18of

00:54:18gun

00:54:19violence

00:54:19prevention

00:54:20and

00:54:20lots

00:54:21of

00:54:22initiatives

00:54:22moving

00:54:23towards

00:54:23keeping

00:54:24teachers

00:54:25school-based

00:54:25staff

00:54:26and

00:54:26students

00:54:26safe

00:54:27what is

00:54:28being done

00:54:29now

00:54:29to ensure

00:54:30that when

00:54:30we go

00:54:31to work

00:54:31we come

00:54:32home

00:54:32from work

00:54:33okay

00:54:35let me

00:54:36throw it

00:54:36out

00:54:37and I'll

00:54:37respond

00:54:38in a

00:54:38second

00:54:38yes

00:54:38ma'am

00:54:39for me

00:54:44for Marjory

00:54:44Stoneman

00:54:45Douglas

00:54:45and and

00:54:46what our

00:54:47children face

00:54:48every day

00:54:48is why

00:54:49when I

00:54:49walked

00:54:49into a

00:54:49classroom

00:54:50in 2000

00:54:50Columbine

00:54:51and happened

00:54:51in 99

00:54:52and I

00:54:53never left

00:54:54because I

00:54:54thought if

00:54:55my child

00:54:55was going

00:54:55to be

00:54:56shot in

00:54:56school

00:54:56I was

00:54:57going

00:54:57to be

00:54:57with

00:54:58him

00:54:58I

00:54:59lost

00:54:59a

00:54:59classmate

00:55:00in

00:55:00Connecticut

00:55:01when she

00:55:02was holding

00:55:02Dylan

00:55:02and those

00:55:04children

00:55:04that were

00:55:05at Marjory

00:55:05Stoneman

00:55:05Douglas

00:55:06then

00:55:06are at

00:55:08FSU

00:55:08now

00:55:09and went

00:55:09through

00:55:09their

00:55:09second

00:55:10shooting

00:55:10it is

00:55:12real

00:55:12that we

00:55:14live on

00:55:15a month

00:55:15to month

00:55:16basis

00:55:16of active

00:55:18shooter

00:55:18training

00:55:18our

00:55:19generation

00:55:20didn't have

00:55:20to do

00:55:21that

00:55:21but my

00:55:21son

00:55:21has never

00:55:22known

00:55:22anything

00:55:23but that

00:55:24and

00:55:25working

00:55:25in an

00:55:25emotional

00:55:25disability

00:55:26self-contained

00:55:27classroom

00:55:27those

00:55:28children

00:55:28in my

00:55:29room

00:55:29had no

00:55:30idea

00:55:30what we

00:55:30were

00:55:30doing

00:55:31the

00:55:31trauma

00:55:32we're

00:55:32creating

00:55:32because

00:55:33we're

00:55:33not

00:55:33taking care

00:55:34of the

00:55:34problem

00:55:35we have

00:55:36to stop

00:55:37gun violence

00:55:38in our

00:55:38school

00:55:38it's the

00:55:39number one

00:55:39killer of

00:55:40children

00:55:40it's got

00:55:42to stop

00:55:42and I

00:55:43don't think

00:55:44there's a

00:55:44single person

00:55:45in any

00:55:45public school

00:55:46in this

00:55:47country

00:55:47who would

00:55:48not put

00:55:48themselves

00:55:48in front

00:55:49of a

00:55:49bullet

00:55:50to protect

00:55:50a child

00:55:51and I

00:55:52thank each

00:55:53and every

00:55:53one of

00:55:53you for

00:55:54doing

00:55:54that

00:55:54thank you

00:55:55anybody else

00:56:00want to

00:56:00comment on

00:56:01that

00:56:01so what

00:56:03you're doing

00:56:03with teacher

00:56:05unify

00:56:05is part of

00:56:07how we

00:56:08have to

00:56:08solve a

00:56:09problem

00:56:09and solve

00:56:10this problem

00:56:11particularly

00:56:12when there

00:56:13is again

00:56:13an administration

00:56:14that wants

00:56:16to not only

00:56:17defund

00:56:17these programs

00:56:18but pretend

00:56:19they don't

00:56:20pretend

00:56:21gun violence

00:56:22as a

00:56:23killer of

00:56:23children

00:56:24doesn't

00:56:24exist

00:56:24and part

00:56:26of what

00:56:27many of

00:56:28us have

00:56:28learned

00:56:29in the

00:56:30fight

00:56:30against

00:56:30authoritarianism

00:56:32and the

00:56:33fight against

00:56:33erasure

00:56:34is that

00:56:36it means

00:56:37that the

00:56:38people

00:56:38have a

00:56:39bigger job

00:56:40than they

00:56:40had before

00:56:41so

00:56:42Senator Sanders

00:56:43just talked

00:56:44about a

00:56:44job that

00:56:44we have

00:56:45to do

00:56:45for

00:56:46September

00:56:47for November

00:56:482020

00:56:4826

00:56:49could you

00:56:49imagine

00:56:50for a

00:56:50second

00:56:50if

00:56:52Senator

00:56:54Sanders

00:56:54or if

00:56:56someone in

00:56:57the House

00:56:57of Representatives

00:56:58maybe like

00:56:58AOC

00:56:59or others

00:57:00could actually

00:57:01hold a

00:57:02hearing

00:57:02about gun

00:57:03violence

00:57:04could actually

00:57:05then be

00:57:05the checks

00:57:06and balances

00:57:07like we

00:57:07were in

00:57:08a shadow

00:57:08hearing today

00:57:09about that

00:57:10so we

00:57:11have to

00:57:11take this

00:57:12moment of

00:57:13time

00:57:13to actually

00:57:14be the

00:57:14face

00:57:15of it

00:57:15to actually

00:57:16be the

00:57:17advocates

00:57:17to actually

00:57:18overcome fear

00:57:20and overcome

00:57:21apathy

00:57:22and not

00:57:23give up

00:57:25and I

00:57:26would just

00:57:27add

00:57:27yes you

00:57:28can ask

00:57:28Randy

00:57:29yes

00:57:29please

00:57:30I would

00:57:33add

00:57:33we have

00:57:33to hold

00:57:34our

00:57:34as Randy

00:57:35said

00:57:35we have

00:57:35to hold

00:57:36our heads

00:57:36high

00:57:36we have

00:57:37to tell

00:57:37the stories

00:57:38we cannot

00:57:38stop telling

00:57:39the stories

00:57:40we have

00:57:41to put

00:57:41a face

00:57:42on what

00:57:42gun violence

00:57:43in our

00:57:44schools

00:57:44is

00:57:45we have

00:57:46to do

00:57:46that

00:57:46and keep

00:57:47fighting

00:57:47and we

00:57:48have to

00:57:48keep

00:57:48pushing

00:57:49our

00:57:49legislators

00:57:50to

00:57:51legislate

00:57:52common sense

00:57:52gun laws

00:57:53thank you

00:57:54can I

00:57:55can I

00:57:57just tell

00:57:58a quick

00:57:58story

00:57:58this is

00:57:59an issue

00:58:01that I

00:58:01always

00:58:02find difficult

00:58:03to even

00:58:04talk about

00:58:04it

00:58:05because

00:58:06just

00:58:06conjuring

00:58:07up the

00:58:07image

00:58:08of what

00:58:08has

00:58:09happened

00:58:09is

00:58:10almost

00:58:11unspeakable

00:58:11it's

00:58:11almost

00:58:12something

00:58:12it's

00:58:13really

00:58:13quite

00:58:14nightmarish

00:58:15and

00:58:17as

00:58:17horrible

00:58:17as

00:58:18the

00:58:19instances

00:58:19that we

00:58:20have

00:58:20heard

00:58:20and

00:58:21others

00:58:21that we

00:58:22have

00:58:22not

00:58:22discussed

00:58:22is the

00:58:24insanity

00:58:25that in

00:58:26this

00:58:26country

00:58:26today

00:58:27there

00:58:28are

00:58:28kids

00:58:29going

00:58:29to

00:58:29school

00:58:30and I

00:58:30saw

00:58:30this

00:58:30in

00:58:31Vermont

00:58:31I

00:58:31didn't

00:58:31fully

00:58:32appreciate

00:58:32it

00:58:32sit down

00:58:33I talk

00:58:33to kids

00:58:33a lot

00:58:34they

00:58:34worry

00:58:35so you

00:58:36imagine

00:58:36going to

00:58:37school

00:58:38you're

00:58:38supposed

00:58:38to be

00:58:38studying

00:58:39math

00:58:39and

00:58:39English

00:58:40and

00:58:40science

00:58:41you're

00:58:42worried

00:58:42about

00:58:43some

00:58:43horrible

00:58:44thing

00:58:44horrible

00:58:45thing

00:58:46this just

00:58:47speaks to

00:58:47some of

00:58:48the very

00:58:48deep

00:58:49seated

00:58:49problems

00:58:49that exist

00:58:50in our

00:58:50country

00:58:51which are

00:58:51not going

00:58:51to be

00:58:51solved

00:58:52overnight

00:58:52but we

00:58:53have got

00:58:54to

00:58:54address

00:58:55and as

00:58:56others

00:58:56have said

00:58:56instead

00:58:57of dividing

00:58:58us up

00:58:58you know

00:58:59on the

00:59:00color of

00:59:00our skin

00:59:00or where

00:59:01we were

00:59:01born

00:59:02maybe we

00:59:03sit down

00:59:03and try

00:59:04to figure

00:59:04out

00:59:04how these

00:59:05things are

00:59:05happening

00:59:06and what

00:59:06it means

00:59:06to our

00:59:07kids

00:59:07yes

00:59:08last

00:59:09question

00:59:09I think

00:59:09yes

00:59:10please

00:59:10thank

00:59:15thank you

00:59:15my name

00:59:16is

00:59:16Freddie

00:59:16Ellis

00:59:16I'm

00:59:17a

00:59:17New York

00:59:17City

00:59:17public

00:59:17school

00:59:18teacher

00:59:18I've

00:59:22taught

00:59:23for over

00:59:2335 years

00:59:24retired

00:59:25but still

00:59:25teach

00:59:26in the

00:59:26same

00:59:26school

00:59:27but one

00:59:27of the

00:59:28questions

00:59:28I'd like

00:59:28to ask

00:59:28you know

00:59:29we're

00:59:29talking

00:59:30about

00:59:30all the

00:59:30violence

00:59:31and so

00:59:31on and

00:59:31so forth

00:59:32tell the

00:59:32school

00:59:33excuse me

00:59:34tell the

00:59:35school that

00:59:35you teach

00:59:36oh

00:59:36public

00:59:37school

00:59:3710

00:59:37in

00:59:38Park Slope

00:59:38section

00:59:39of

00:59:39Brooklyn

00:59:39okay

00:59:41but one

00:59:41of the

00:59:42biggest

00:59:42problems

00:59:43we're having

00:59:44and this

00:59:44touches on

00:59:45with the

00:59:45school

00:59:45violence

00:59:47of guns

00:59:47is the

00:59:48breakdown

00:59:48of the

00:59:49family

00:59:49unit

00:59:49and

00:59:51is there

00:59:52a type

00:59:52of program

00:59:53that we

00:59:53could set

00:59:54up

00:59:54at least

00:59:55I know

00:59:55it's not

00:59:56an overnight

00:59:56solution

00:59:56here

00:59:57but as

00:59:57you just

00:59:57mentioned

00:59:58earlier

00:59:58but some

01:00:00type of

01:00:00program

01:00:01to help

01:00:02with the

01:00:02families

01:00:02even

01:00:02at one

01:00:03point

01:00:03someone even

01:00:04suggested

01:00:04changing

01:00:05a whole

01:00:05structure

01:00:06of

01:00:06public

01:00:07schools

01:00:07where we

01:00:08could

01:00:08keep it

01:00:09open

01:00:09teachers

01:00:09work on

01:00:10shifts

01:00:10serve

01:00:11breakfast

01:00:12lunch

01:00:12dinner

01:00:13because

01:00:14this is

01:00:14really

01:00:15contributing

01:00:15to a lot

01:00:16of our

01:00:16problems

01:00:17as well

01:00:17let me

01:00:19start off

01:00:19by saying

01:00:20I went

01:00:20to PS

01:00:21197

01:00:21block

01:00:22look

01:00:26you're

01:00:26asking

01:00:26a very

01:00:28deep

01:00:29question

01:00:29and I

01:00:31think

01:00:31let me

01:00:32answer it

01:00:33and others

01:00:33can

01:00:33chime in

01:00:34by saying

01:00:37that I

01:00:38think

01:00:39maybe the

01:00:40most

01:00:41difficult

01:00:41thing

01:00:42that

01:00:42politicians

01:00:43have

01:00:43got to

01:00:43do

01:00:44is

01:00:44have

01:00:44the

01:00:44courage

01:00:45to

01:00:46assess

01:00:47and discuss

01:00:48the

01:00:48enormous

01:00:49crises

01:00:50facing our

01:00:50country

01:00:51in so

01:00:51many

01:00:52respects

01:00:52and I

01:00:53think we

01:00:54lose

01:00:54credibility

01:00:55with the

01:00:55American

01:00:56people

01:00:56when we

01:00:56don't

01:00:57acknowledge

01:00:57whether

01:00:57it's the

01:00:58economic

01:00:58struggle

01:00:59or the

01:01:00fear

01:01:00of

01:01:01violence

01:01:01or the

01:01:02reality

01:01:02there are

01:01:03tens of

01:01:04millions

01:01:04of people

01:01:04who can't

01:01:05afford

01:01:05health care

01:01:05you've got

01:01:06a talk

01:01:06about the

01:01:07reality

01:01:08and one

01:01:08of those

01:01:09realities

01:01:09you've got

01:01:10a lot

01:01:10of families

01:01:11out there

01:01:12who are

01:01:13dysfunctional

01:01:13and a lot

01:01:14of things

01:01:14we've got to

01:01:14do

01:01:14I mean I

01:01:15would say

01:01:16that the

01:01:16first thing

01:01:16you do

01:01:17one of the

01:01:18first things

01:01:18you do

01:01:18is make

01:01:18sure that

01:01:19everybody

01:01:19in America

01:01:20not just

01:01:21teachers

01:01:21everybody earns

01:01:22a living wage

01:01:23by raising

01:01:24that minimum

01:01:24wage

01:01:25to a living

01:01:25wage

01:01:26second thing

01:01:31you do

01:01:31and think

01:01:32about how

01:01:32transformative

01:01:33this would be

01:01:34to say you

01:01:35know what

01:01:35health care

01:01:36is a human

01:01:36right

01:01:37and thirdly

01:01:43again

01:01:44instead of

01:01:44giving tax

01:01:45breaks

01:01:45to billionaires

01:01:46people can

01:01:46argue

01:01:47we can

01:01:47disagree

01:01:48and it's

01:01:48a good

01:01:48discussion

01:01:49how do

01:01:49we address

01:01:50that problem

01:01:50but let's

01:01:51understand

01:01:52that that

01:01:53is a problem

01:01:54that in the

01:01:55richest country

01:01:56on earth

01:01:57we have the

01:01:57resources

01:01:58to begin

01:01:59addressing it

01:02:00alright

01:02:01so that's

01:02:02my answer

01:02:02anybody else

01:02:03want to

01:02:03jump in here

01:02:04Corey did you

01:02:05want to

01:02:05you know

01:02:08it's

01:02:08one thing

01:02:08I'd like to

01:02:09point out

01:02:09is to

01:02:09your point

01:02:10the cost

01:02:11of living

01:02:11in the

01:02:12city of

01:02:12Boston

01:02:12has become

01:02:13outrageous

01:02:13the cost

01:02:14of housing

01:02:15has become

01:02:15absolutely

01:02:15outrageous

01:02:16one thing

01:02:17I have

01:02:17noticed

01:02:17in the

01:02:18course

01:02:18of my

01:02:18career

01:02:19which is

01:02:19not

01:02:19terribly

01:02:20long

01:02:20is that

01:02:21we have

01:02:22when I

01:02:23started

01:02:23you know

01:02:23you'd have

01:02:24you know

01:02:25mom dad

01:02:25two kids

01:02:26maybe living

01:02:26in a

01:02:27three bedroom

01:02:27apartment

01:02:28okay

01:02:28what we're

01:02:29increasingly

01:02:30seeing

01:02:30is we'll

01:02:32have you

01:02:32know

01:02:32mom dad

01:02:33and two

01:02:33kids

01:02:34living in

01:02:35one

01:02:35room

01:02:36in a

01:02:36three

01:02:36bedroom

01:02:36apartment

01:02:37and each

01:02:38other room

01:02:39has got

01:02:39maybe

01:02:40mom dad

01:02:40and two

01:02:40kids

01:02:41so now you

01:02:42have 12

01:02:43people in

01:02:43one apartment

01:02:44sharing a

01:02:45kitchen and a

01:02:45bathroom

01:02:46how do you find

01:02:47the peace and

01:02:48quiet to do your

01:02:48homework

01:02:49how do you find

01:02:50the time to have

01:02:51dinner together

01:02:51where do you do

01:02:52it

01:02:52these are real

01:02:54challenges we're

01:02:55facing outside of

01:02:55the school

01:02:56that are directly

01:02:57impacting our kids

01:02:57today

01:02:58and very much

01:03:00in tune with the

01:03:01idea of economic

01:03:02inequality we're

01:03:02facing here in this

01:03:03country

01:03:03all right i want

01:03:04everybody to think

01:03:05about what cory

01:03:05just said

01:03:06the overall

01:03:08line you hear in dc

01:03:10is well hey these

01:03:12are tough times

01:03:13we've got to do

01:03:14some austerity

01:03:15austerity we've got

01:03:15to cut back here

01:03:16can't afford health

01:03:18care can't afford

01:03:18decent wages

01:03:19that is a lie

01:03:21that is a

01:03:23fundamental lie

01:03:24nobody in america

01:03:25should be having to

01:03:26live under the conditions

01:03:27that cory

01:03:28just described

01:03:29why are we not

01:03:30building the millions

01:03:31of low-income and

01:03:32affordable housing

01:03:33units that we need

01:03:34putting workers to

01:03:36work building those

01:03:37units those units in

01:03:38good union jobs

01:03:40so i would say that

01:03:47to me the major

01:03:48political issue that

01:03:50we face is

01:03:50recognizing the

01:03:52crises trying to

01:03:54understand why they

01:03:56exist in the richest

01:03:58country on earth

01:03:59figuring out how we

01:04:00bring our people

01:04:02together to address

01:04:03those crises

01:04:04through a fundamental

01:04:05change in the

01:04:07priorities of this

01:04:08country

01:04:08all right with that

01:04:09i'm afraid this has

01:04:11been a great meeting

01:04:12and again i want to

01:04:14i want to thank our

01:04:20panelists i want to

01:04:21thank all of you

01:04:22for what you're doing

01:04:23at every teacher

01:04:24in america

01:04:25thank you all

01:04:26thank you

01:04:31thank you

01:04:32thank you

01:04:33thank you

01:04:34thank you

01:04:35thank you

01:04:36thank you

01:04:37thank you

01:04:38thank you

01:04:39thank you

01:04:40thank you

01:04:41thank you

01:04:42thank you

01:04:43thank you

01:04:44thank you

01:04:45thank you

01:04:46thank you

01:04:47thank you

01:04:48thank you

01:04:49thank you

01:04:50thank you

01:04:51thank you

01:04:52thank you

01:04:53thank you

01:04:54thank you

01:04:55thank you

01:04:56thank you

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