Sourced from: WJLA.com
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (ABC7) - A new poll highlights the financial struggles that teachers in Maryland are facing, including paying for their own school supplies and working second jobs.
The poll, conducted by the Maryland State Education Association, found 94 percent report they spend their own money on school supplies, 50 percent work a second job to make ends meet and 44 percent say they’re running up personal debt.
“It’s not just rent and auto payments that folks are concerned with. Now it's student debt. Most of our folks are carrying tens of thousands of dollars in student debt,” President of Montgomery County Education Association Christopher Lloyd said.
Lloyd advocates for raises for teachers across the state as the so-called Kirwan commission tries to figure out how to fund massive spending hikes even as Governor Larry Hogan warns the money just isn’t there.
The president of the education association says it must be found.
"We’re fighting for the schools our kids deserve, and if we don’t get that in essence what we’re doing is saying goodbye to a generation of kids."
