A nine day teachers strike in West Virginia finally came to an end with the five percent raise that they were asking for. This is a well deserved raise in the eyes of some staff here at PIHS. “Anyone who gets into education thinking they are going to make money shouldn’t be in this field, but they shouldn’t have to fight to be middle class,” says history teacher Zachary Powers.

“The job of a teacher is extremely important,” commented English teacher Mary Trainer.

“It’d be a hard world to live in if we had our parents educating us. I wouldn’t want to be worked on by a nurse who had been taught from her parents,” voiced math and science teacher Katalin Grooms.

“I think all teachers deserve more pay, not just in West Virginia, in light of recent events they’re being asked to do more than just teach,” said science teacher Erin Argraves. “Most people don’t go into teaching for the money, but it is how they make a living,” she added.

So does the pay equal the work? “I’d say so for the job I do,” commented Erika Bernard. She explained that the pay is leveled here based on how many years you have worked. “I do understand why they are on strike though,” added Bernard.

“We’ve been treated legally very fairly here,” said Trainer. “That being said, I do have all kinds of empathy for those who aren’t being paid well, because you need to earn a living to support your family,” Trainer concluded.

The strike in West Virginia is over, and classes are now back in session, but the impact they made is a lasting one. They showed that if you rally together for something you believe in change can happen, when the news broke about the raise and the strike being over the teachers joined together in singing “Country Roads”. They’ve inspired other teachers and their students to also stand up for what they believe is right.