For the past four years, TikToker Travis (@_itstravis) has taught 8th-grade science in an underserved community in West Virginia. But teaching barely scratches the surface of what he does.
A lot of his students cannot afford to buy basic school supplies. Some kids often come to school wearing the same outfits a few times a week.
So, Travis and other teachers at the school pull these kids aside and provide them with supplies and hygiene products. They even send food home with the kids to make sure they have something to eat over the weekend.
It’s an act of service that happens behind the scenes, without recognition or compensation. But the truth is, even teachers have their limits.
Last year, Travis got paid for 10 months of full-time teaching. On top of that, he is also a basketball coach and covers extra classes almost every day to make more money.
He made $53,000 for the whole year, and he has four sons of his own to take care of.
There are also a handful of parents who help provide extra school supplies for the classroom, and he greatly appreciates these parents.
However, other parents out there believe that they don’t need to buy anything for their kids, and the school should provide all necessities.
These are the same parents who buy expensive outfits for their kids but won’t bother to send them to school with a couple of pencils and a notebook. They are also the ones who expect free field trips for their kids.
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Furthermore, they are usually the loudest critics, complaining about the school, the principal, and the teachers while sending their kids to school unprepared.
If their children are on a sports team, they will have the teachers/coaches order uniforms and pay out of their own pockets. These parents also expect the coaches to give them rides to and from practice.
Travis doesn’t understand why some parents think they don’t have to be responsible for their own children. As a teacher and parent, it is his responsibility to take care of his kids, as well as his students.
At the heart of his message is a plea for support. He loves his job and cares deeply, but he can’t do it all by himself—and that goes for all teachers.
“I really don’t think the people complaining have ever paid daycare costs. I’ll buy the supplies happily and extra all year round for kids who can’t afford it (I grew up being one of them). Anything less than daycare, we good. Thank you for all you do!” one person exclaimed.
“My son goes to an incredibly rural school in a very poor area. I donate to the supply drive for the school. It may only be $20 but the person who does the shopping makes those dollars go far. Our kids deserve nothing but the best. Some people need to do better,” another person added.
“In my experience, it’s the folks who can afford it who make the biggest stink about it. Those who can’t afford it will literally dip into their grocery money to bring in extra supplies if they know there’s a need,” a third person said.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
