In early April 2018, around 36,000 educators from Oklahoma public schools initiated a strike, converging on the state capital to air their grievances. Among numerous issues like alarmingly low wages—one teacher reported an annual salary of just $27,000—and overcrowded classrooms, the state of classroom resources has emerged as a particularly disheartening concern.
Teachers have been sharing images of their dilapidated, barely usable textbooks, prompting outrage over such inadequate educational materials. One striking example comes from a teacher who reported having only 29 textbooks for a staggering 87 students. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many of these resources are outdated; for instance, one student mentioned using a Spanish textbook from 2003 and a science book published a decade ago, while some history texts still reference George W. Bush as president.
The classroom environment itself leaves much to be desired. Desks and chairs are often broken or insufficient in number, contributing to a chaotic learning atmosphere. “In our building alone, the chairs are falling apart, and the plastic is breaking off of them,” said Emily Johnson, an English teacher in the state. “Heavy rain often leads to flooding in classrooms, and we’re dealing with peeling paint and missing ceiling tiles.”
Laurie Thompson, an art teacher, shared a poignant story on Facebook, revealing the extent of the problem: “Today a student carried his chair to sharpen his pencil because he got to class early enough to find one that wasn’t broken. I had to dispose of a chair with no bottom, and now I’m bringing in folding chairs from home for my new students tomorrow.”
As teachers entered the second day of their strike, there is hope that this collective action will compel Oklahoma’s government to allocate more funding for education. The eyes of the nation are on this situation, as public sentiment grows increasingly frustrated.
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In summary, Oklahoma educators are confronting a deeply troubling situation with inadequate and outdated textbooks, insufficient classroom resources, and broken furniture. Their collective strike aims to highlight these dire conditions and advocate for necessary improvements in funding and resources.