TULSA, OK (KJRH/CNN) - One Oklahoma teacher's husband decided to break down why the raise lawmakers approved for educators isn't enough.
Teachers throughout Oklahoma are planning to walk out of class on Monday in protest.
James Deming made a video comparing the problem to one he hopes more people can relate to, using the example of a firefighter instead of a teacher.
"Instead of talking specifically about teachers, I'm going to use another example of a firefighter," James Deming said. "So I'm a firefighter, and in the last 10 years, I have not had a raise."
Holding a garden hose, Deming's son gets to play alongside his dad. "I needed someone to play the legislature," Deming said.
In the video, Deming asked the legislature for more funding.
"But not only have I not had a raise, I haven't had any new equipment either," Deming said. "Meanwhile my city has grown by 60,000 people, new students in the past 10 years, 60,000 students and I've had no new funding. Legislature, will you help me? I need a new hose and a raise."
"Gee, I can't afford that," said "the legislature."
"Every year I asked for more money for a need, and I got less money," Deming said.
The education budget has been cut in recent years.
"Education funding has been cut in Oklahoma approximately 28.2 percent. That's on a per student basis." Deming said. "Our legislators are having a party because they have provided our teachers a bigger raise and a drinking straw for a fire hose and that is what's wrong with this bill. They've acted like a bunch of 2-year-olds for the past 10 years, and they got along for a single day before they started acting like 2-year-olds again."
It's a way to show not only his wife's 16-year pain but the pain of thousands of other teachers across the state.
"Teachers not only need better pay, but they money for more teachers for smaller class sizes, books, materials, school supplies, and this bill doesn't do that," Deming said.
He said he hopes the video sheds light on a problem he said has lasted too long.
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