Teacher salaries REVISITED?

Question

I want to refer to my question on teacher salaries:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Amck2FlyS7U3zeN390WqX2TpFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20080614180557AAGQHpc

I think that I was given unneccessary greif for this question. I don't think that teachers make to much, I just think that they should stop complaining. We've heard enough already. My mom start's working usually around 7am, and she doesn't get home untill between 4-6 o-clock. Plus she works from 6-8 at night on Mondays and Tuesdays. What does she get for all of this? a whole $400 per week. She also has to spend hours writing up schedules, which she isn't payed for. Not to mention, she spends at LEAST $90 on gas per week, which she isn't paid for. (She travels to peoples homes.) Has my mom ever written entire forums about how crappy her job is? Has she ever whined like a baby about how she should be paid more? NO. NO. NO. I am not saying teachers are overpaid, I'm saying they have nothing to complain about. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

People who go into teaching as simply a job or a way of making money are in it for the wrong reasons.  In terms of actual teacher salaries, unless you're underpaid at a private school, you're making a solid middle-class income.  Teachers only have to work less than half the days of the calendar year and generally only work about 7 hours a day with at least one of those hours off for planning.  While good teachers work more than that on their own time, it's still not comparable to other professions where people work 8 hours a day 50 weeks of the year.  If teachers only had two weeks off a year like most people do, then maybe they should be making a comparable salary to business, etc.  But for only working 180 days, 30 thousand plus is a decent salary.

Answer 2

I don't think you were given unnecessary grief.  You asked a question wanting all opinions, and unfortunately for you, did not get many that supported your (incorrect) description of teaching.

However, I think your question goes both ways:

A.  I think teachers are not paid what their work is worth, but on the other hand, I also do not like to hear constant complaining either.  Teachers enter the profession knowing the pay salary is less than in private industry (but the benefits are greater) and complaining about pay needlessly only leaves taxpayers feeling that teachers have an entitlement attitude.  Unless it is a contract year, conversations about pay scale should be moot.  If as a teacher, you are that unhappy about it, find a new job.

B.  I think people who complain about teacher salaries with inaccurate information should stop complaining as well.  If you haven't done the job, you are not qualified to comment on how easy teachers have it and how they are well paid for their 7-3 job.  You were given great insight as to the requirements of the job in the last thread and for the hours and requirements demanded, the pay for a professional job is low.

Now, you didn't mention what your mom does.  Is she a professional?  Does she have the skills to advance in her career?  You can see how hard she works and how, in your opinion, she is underpaid.  This is the reason your teachers want you to try your best and succeed in school.  We want you to be able to have the skills to do a job that you like and one that can support you later in life.  Unfortunately, many people struggle to get by in society because they "didn't like school" and now have few options available to them to advance their career.  These are the people who are dissatisfied and then try to belittle teachers (and others) who appear to have an "easy" job with "high" pay.

Answer 3

from the sound of it they do have alot to complain about.

teaching is a passion. it pays c**p but most people do it because they love it. thats why i'm going to school to teach. you don't realize what a joy it is until you do it. I decided to go to be a teacher because you get to be an influence in alot of children's lives. you get to be a part of their future, to guide them down the right path. No amount of money could ever replace that.

teachers who complain about the money shouldn't be teaching. i'm paying thousands of dollars to go to school and i know the starting salary is crappy but Its a passion. I want to love my job and money comes second to happiness.