The Education students at the University of Cincinnati believe that we deserve to receive financial compensation for student teaching. At UC, the Early Childhood Education students are required to work at a practicum site every semester starting their second year without pay. At the practicum, students are required to support lead teachers whilst completing various large projects, activity plans, and lesson plans. Students are required to be at their practicum site at least 3-4 days of the week working around 20 hours per week. According to the University of Cincinnati Co-op program website, this would be considered a part-time co-op as students are working 12-20 hours per week. Between traveling to our practicum sites and our classes, education students are forced to have a second or third job to make ends meet. We are struggling to afford housing with the equity issues that align with being a student teacher. Amidst these struggles, student teachers have to afford their own housing, groceries, gas for travel time and other necessities, and with the drastic increase in housing and living prices, this unpaid program is damaging to future educators.

The National Education Association All work, No Pay article describes that many education students in various colleges and universities across the country are standing up against unpaid teaching internships. Students at the University of Cincinnati are ready to stand up to receive compensation for professional experiences including teaching. 

Current teachers in the field have enough to deal with currently with the present day government issues. We major in education because it is our passion and we want this as our future career. However, the unjust treatment with the various majors at the University of Cincinnati having paid co-ops, in relation to the unpaid student teaching for 5 semesters (including a full-time teaching placement for our senior semester) is infuriating. Signing this petition shows your support for the current students at the University of Cincinnati to propose and advocate for ourselves and future generations of educators  to receive financial aid for our time and rigorous work ethic that is required to complete our degree. 

If education students are paid for their student teaching, in return, the University, students, staff, and schools will all benefit from this change. 

We will present this petition and more information in a proposal to the President and the current student government at the University of Cincinnati. 

Thank you for your support!

-Cynthia M. Surges & Karen Vásquez Perez

and the University of Cincinnati Education Majors