'Abbott Elementary' star Quinta Brunson calls for teachers to be paid more in SNL opening monologue

Despite being responsible for shaping their students' futures, teachers are often underpaid, leading to demotivation and job dissatisfaction. This problem not only affects the teachers but also has a negative impact on the education system as a whole. It can result in a shortage of qualified teachers, a lack of motivation among existing teachers and difficulty attracting and retaining talented individuals in the teaching profession.

This issue was specifically highlighted during the pandemic lockdowns, when teachers were forced to take online classes with reduced pay. "Abbott Elementary" star Quinta Brunson highlighted this issue and called for teachers to be paid more while hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL) on April 1, reported PEOPLE.

During her monologue, Brunson pointed out that the audience expects her to resolve issues related to the public school system in real life, just like her character Janine Teagues, a teacher. However, she clarified that she is dissimilar to her character and the show's success has allowed her to meet notable personalities.

Brunson played a video message that she and Barack Obama had sent to her mother thanking her for being a teacher. In conclusion, she emphasized that teachers are often undervalued and not given due credit. She said, "Please remember how important teachers are, acknowledge the work they do every day and for the love of God, pay them the money they deserve."

Her statement comes at a time when teachers who belong to the National Education Union in England are holding strikes for better pay. They recently rejected an offer from the government for an approximately $1,200 one-off payment and a 4.3% pay rise for all teachers, reported The Guardian. The government's proposal was deemed inferior by Mary Bousted, the union's co-general secretary, compared to recent pay agreements that settled conflicts in other parts of the UK.

She said. "To parents we say that we have no wish to disrupt education, indeed our action is aimed at getting the government to invest in the education of this generation of children and the people who teach them. We are asking our school reps to plan with headteachers to ensure that year 11 and year 13 students have a full program of education on the upcoming strike days."

According to a report by National Education Association in 2022, the average teacher's salary is estimated to be $66,397 for the 2021-2022 school year. They are being paid an average of $2,179, less than what teachers made 10 years ago. When adjusted for inflation, salaries have dropped by nearly 4% over the last decade. Considering this scenario of teachers across the US and England struggling to get fair wages, Brunson's comments on SNL couldn't have come at a better time.

The cold open on Saturday also mocked recent occurrences, particularly the grand jury indictment of Donald Trump in New York, marking the first instance in the US history of a sitting or former president facing criminal allegations. James Austin Johnson, a cast member, portrayed Trump in the skit, singing satirical songs to collect funds from his followers.

As season 48 of SNL is underway, the show is experiencing significant changes in its cast. The departure of seasoned cast members, including Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney, occurred at the conclusion of season 47.