Some districts have put a hiring freeze on teachers, or even laid them off, but speech pathologists' salaries are paid by Medicaid, and federal law mandates that students in need get tested and treated at no charge.
In April 2008, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, controversially made a strong speech arguing that salary caps should be implemented to curb the pay of the rich in an attempt to manage the growth of the economy.
He gave a rousing, populist speech, promising jobs and salaries for workers, electricity and gas for homes, freedom for women to work and strong health services for all.
Lauren A. Giaccone, who helped organize the protest, said beforehand that students were concerned about the president's salary, free speech issues and general management of the university.
Mr. Booker said in an interview on Monday that he had "definitely" earned more from speeches than from salary, "but if you minus out all that I've given away, it's not that much money".
Former president Barack Obama reemerged this week for his first formal public event since leaving office, but all people can talk about is a future event — specifically, one for which he will be paid his old annual salary for one speech.
Medicaid helps pay the salaries of social workers, speech therapists and school nurses, as well as transportation for students with disabilities.
In jobs like pharmacy and speech pathology there is a clear and narrow salary range, and women are more likely to have manageable schedules, Barker says.
Some spoke about the issues of the day as small clumps of people listened: high government salaries, low birthrates, immigration and, yes, free speech.
