Teachers in Maryland are finding it hard to make ends meet: a new poll has found that 41 percent of educators worked at a second job to fund day to day expenses of their family.
The number rises up to 61 percent when teachers below 30 years old are considered.
A new poll conducted by Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) also finds 91 percent of state educators paying out of their own pockets for school supplies thus eating up a part of their salaries.
Over the last year, 34 percent of teachers who after finding their salaries insufficient for meeting day to day expenses, took up personal debt, while 37 percent of them are already burdened with student debts.
“Far too many educators are struggling to make ends meet. It’s clear that Maryland needs to do more for our teachers and school staff,” MSEA President Cheryl Bost said.
“Educators devote their lives to making a difference for every single child in their community, yet as a state we have allowed educators to become undervalued. The Kirwan Commission, legislators, and local officials must address this problem head-on so we can recruit and retain the talented and dedicated educators our kids need and deserve.”
The poll also found 62 percent of teachers agreeing that their salaries make it hard for them to make ends meet for their families,while 71 percent feel that inadequate staffing levels at the schools make life difficult for them.