Teachers rallied at the State Capitol Tuesday, bringing with them signs and concerns.
The North Carolina Association of Educators estimates 7,000 to 8,000 people attended the “One Voice” rally at the Bicentennial Mall in downtown Raleigh.
Much of the rally centered on the impact budget cuts could have on students in the classroom. Teachers also worry though about the hit their families could take.
Jackie DeProspero is a teacher's assistant in Wake County and her husband is an art teacher.
She fears one or both of them could lose their jobs because of the budget crunch.
“We would have to look for another job,” she said.
Though she was vocal about the budget at the rally, that's not the case at home.
"Usually we try not to talk too much about it. It's sort of a depressing issue to talk about. So at home we try to have a normal life. We talk about the children's education,” she said.
The couple have four children.
“Two are in college now and two are in high school. So we're very concerned about the future, our futures,” she said.
Her daughter Mika is studying to become an elementary school teacher.
"Some people have talked to her about discouraging her with going into education, but she loves children. My husband and I are very supportive of her going into that field. It's an honorable field to be in."
According to the North Carolina Association of Educators, the state ranks 45th in the country in teachers’ salaries. The association blames salary schedules frozen during the past three years, the elimination of some bonuses and higher health care costs.
The NCAE and many of the teachers at the rally support a one cent sales tax that the association said would bring in an estimated $1.4 billion in revenue for the state, which would be used to prevent cuts to public schools.
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