It’s really frustrating that in our country, teachers often have to contribute their own money to cover the costs of school activities. This isn’t just something from the past—it’s still happening today. Let me share a personal experience that still bothers me.

A few years ago, we had a district-wide event that required a significant amount of preparation. I remember being approached, like all the other teachers, and asked to pitch in money. At that time, my budget was already stretched thin—I had just bought some much-needed supplies for my classroom. But, like everyone else, I felt that I couldn’t say no. We were all in the same boat, after all. The sad part is, this wasn’t a one-time thing; it’s a regular occurrence. Why should we, as teachers, have to dip into our pockets every time the school or district needs to fund something?

You might be wondering, isn’t there a budget for these things? I asked myself the same question. We’ve all heard about the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) fund, but let me tell you, it’s never enough. The money is barely sufficient to cover basic necessities, let alone extras like event costs.

Shouldn’t it be the division’s responsibility to ensure schools have the funds they need? Absolutely. But here’s the reality: those in charge rarely come down from their high positions to see what’s really going on in our schools. It’s easy to make decisions from a distance without understanding the everyday struggles we face.

Here’s another example. There was this time when a higher-up, a PSDS, insisted on having a lavish spread for a meeting. We were told, not asked, that we needed to contribute to cover the costs. Can you imagine how that felt? We were already struggling with our day-to-day expenses, and now we had to fund an extravagant meal we couldn’t even enjoy properly because we were too busy worrying about the cost.

As teachers, we should have the right to say no, but the truth is, most of us feel pressured to comply. We fear that if we don’t, it might affect our evaluations or standing within the school. This is a cycle that needs to end. It’s unfair, unsustainable, and frankly, it’s driving many of us to the edge.

I’m sharing this because I believe things need to change. We need to start questioning why this burden falls on us and push for solutions that actually work. It’s time for those in charge to understand our struggles and take real action to support us. We’re here to educate, not to endlessly fund the system out of our own pockets. Teachers deserve better, and it’s high time we stand up and demand it. If you want to dive deeper into this issue, I recommend checking out this article on why mandatory contributions from teachers should stop.