As first quarter is about to end for public school students, despite sauna-temperatures in classrooms, I’d like to share my perspective as a teacher.

On Labor Day, I began with two emails from my students to which I replied with detailed feedback on their upcoming essay. Then I graded a 2-inch stack of papers. This was to get as accurate a grade for each student as possible for progress reports.

As a teacher, I know that it is up to me to stay on top of my workload. My reward comes when I see progress in my students. When I don’t, I try to figure out how to reteach them.

It is this work that brings me joy! No matter how tired I am some mornings, my day always gets better when I am teaching. It is the progress in my students that validates my decision to become a teacher — in a public school, no less — a decade ago. (I was in a different career before.)

Yet, as I worked from home earlier this month, I tried to ignore the reminders of the Labor Day sales. I was keenly aware that my daughter was outgrowing her clothes, and I should get her some new pieces. My son wanted a new video game but that was, of course, out of the question. Typically, my buying decisions involve what I can do without hurting someone I love.

The Aug. 20 pay increase this year netted me a decrease of $9 per paycheck. This is due to the increase in my health insurance and drug coverage and pharmacy premiums. My rent is going up next month again: the 4th increase in two years.

Last August, my pay increase amounted to a net 10 cents per paycheck. Again, the modest 3 percent pay hike negotiated by the union was flattened by medical insurance increases.

Not only is my salary not keeping up with inflation, my benefits are cut at the same time that they become even more expensive for me!

Going further back, I am still recovering from the furlough that was imposed on us in 2008. At that time, a 5 percent reduction in pay meant that I had to choose between grocery basics and electricity or  medications for my son. (With the PPO plan, his epipen was still $50 at the time.) I fell behind on some bills, and now I am still paying.

Since Labor Day, I discovered that despite paying higher than ever insurance premiums for my health provider’s PPO plan, I was not able to get approval for a procedure that my doctor had ordered.

I know that I am not unique in my subsistence. As a single mother, I balance what I can do for my two children at home against the children in my classroom. How can I help them thrive when I am struggling myself?

I will continue to do my part. I will pay attention. But the status quo cannot remain.

National Public Radio reported in August that teachers are paid 17 percent less than other people with the same education and experience. How much more painful is it for Hawaii teachers given the higher cost of living? Not only is my salary not keeping up with inflation, my benefits are cut at the same time that they become even more expensive for me!

The conditions which I describe here result from the decisions of elected officials of both parties over the past decade. I have voted in every election. Yet, I am skeptical as to what this year’s candidates can/will do. (The Honolulu rail project seems to be foremost in people’s minds.)

It is enough that I fight the battles that beset my students (e.g. poverty, bad policies, etc.). Do I have to fight to get a livable wage too?