Teachers are entrusted with our most precious commodity and yet we pay them less than garbage men. I understand that teaching should be about the children and not about the money, but shouldn't a teacher be paid a decent living. How do you expect a person to love their job and do it well if they are struggling to make ends meet?\nJust wondering, I'm not a teacher, I'm a para and I get paid right at the National poverty level, and I know my boss made his money in the Military and Real Estate, not in education.
209561
Teacher's should get paid like the educated professionals they are.  There is a lot more in teaching than most people think.  Some people might argue that 35k (average salary for a first year teacher) might be enough but there's  alot of other factors to consider than just living expenses.  Every time a teacher takes work to be graded home, its unpaid overtime.  Every time a teacher tutors before school or after school for the most part is unpaid overtime (some schools do pay teachers but not many).  Every time child receives a certificate, a pencil, a cupcake, a candy, a sticker, a book or any other type of rewards, they are paid out of pocket.  Anytime you walk into a teacher's room and see posters, bulletin boards, borders for decoration, the majority of the books (for students to read for pleasure), even whiteboard markers were paid out of pocket.  Some teachers have been known to buy their own desk chairs because the schools don't provide any.  Some schools limit the teacher's use of copy machines.  Guess what happens when a teacher runs out...Kinko's run to send homework packets home, parents letters, progress reports out of pocket and only to find out that the homework doesn't get done and letters are not being read.  I definately think teacher's should get paid more.
187410
Listen, you ignorant republican. I am a teacher in inner-city Philadelphia. I am having a hard time making ends meet. I have NO children, I could not pay off a loan (I am paying off college loans.) What's your next suggestion, GW?
129236
well i cant choose for you but in my opinion even tho teachers dont get paid that much its a good and fun job. the kids are great. but what you have to do is see what fits you the most you cant plan your hole life day by day cuz you never know what will happen you cant prepare for every mistake that might happen  because if you do you will be depprest the rest of your life you just have to take it day by day and see what happens things always have a way of working themselves out \n\n\ngood luck and all the best
245703
Unfortunately, the public school system in america is not taken seriously enough.  Further, the students who attend our public school system (even through college) are continuiously torn down by teachers, principals, and even unknowingly, their parents.  This is done by teaching the youth of america that they should "Go to school and get a good job", when what that's actually doing is teaching a person to wear a slaves collar for the rest of their lives, be it blue or white.  A slave to the economy, to the boss who says when you can have time off, when you cant go to your kids birthday party, and how much money you should be paid per hour.  But then, there are people like me who try to teach, who show our fellow Americans that there is a way to regain their freedom, to life a life not having to give away 40+ hours a week to a job they hate, to a boss who on a bad day can put that persons name on a piece of paper, and end their job on the spot.  This country was founded on Free Enterprise, on farmers and merchants who owned businesses, however small some might have been.  Other countries, Japan for instance, still teach that kind of mentality.  Yes, education is important for it, but a major part of the problem is the angle that American schools take - and that is to teach people to be employees, not to be the employeer.\n\nSo it falls to us who try to help people after they get their flawed education, to try to free them from the system.  Show them a way to take back their lives, to decide themselves how much they will make an hour.  What hours they want to spend working, even if that's none at all.  Far too many people have had the dreamlessness of the failing American Dream drilled into them too hard anymore though, and it's impossible to free a person who prefers the collar.  Ah well.
604978
If the teacher is qualified to teach and there are no other problems, then maybe you should be a little more open minded.\n\nSuing for something like that does not make any sense.  This is why the cost of education has gone up.\n\nIf the teacher has done something to your son then by all means take action but if not then grow up and let the teacher do his/her job.
432671
WA state teacher's pay is in the top quartile of the national average. As for it being a living wage, it depends on where you live: the Seattle area is very expenisive compared to other parts of the state. I live in Vancouver, WA and consider the area to be very affordable. Oh, and there is NO state INCOME TAX! AS for ESL, I don't know about that but I do know there are large numbers of non-native speakers of English in SW WA.
114820
Unfortunately, the world over is taking teachers for granted as BABYSITTERS. The parents do not deal with the child's problems at home and force the teachers to deal with them. Not only is it wrong, but creates horrible apathy on the part of the teachers. Teachers also have no motivation from their pay, as that is one of the poorest professions on the planet for time spent.
594737
I think it's absolute nonsense. They should be paid a normal wage like everyone else. Isn't it good enough that they get to do what they love for a living?
64105
Hi. I'm a Bulgarian student and to be honest don't know what you exactly mean. In BG the Ministry of Education has the idea to calculate the month salary of the teachers by giving test to the students. The inspectors come to the school and give the students the tests. Then the test are checked and depending ot the marks (better marks=better teacher) they decide if the teacher is doing his job right and give him more or less money. I hope that this is what you're asking about. However this system is not applied yet, but it'll probably soon be applied.
105415
I don't know about cops.  I know that in some states teachers have unions and in some states they don't.  When they don't (at least in my state) it's because it's illegal.  (Yup, illegal to have a union)  Also, in states without a union teachers make less than states with unions.
110989
ABSOLUTELY!!!  It is difficult to describe, but there is a high level of stress.  I tell people that teaching is live raising 30-150 kids.  Kids try your patience all of the time, but that is in their nature.\n\nAnother thing about teaching is that you cannot do anything about your pay scale.  In other jobs, you get paid for the amount of work you do and you get to almost work your way to the top.  That is not available to us.  Unless you leave the classroom, you will not receive adequate raises.\n\nAlso, teacher spend a considerable amount of money on their students.  You have to buy your own crayons, markers, construction paper, bulletin board decorations, and in some cases, you have to pay for your own copies. On average, I spend at least $200 a month on my students.\n\nFace it, people do not teach to make money!!!
248872
There is no amouint of money that can sufficiently pay those who mold the thinking and lives of the future ... think about it ... teachers show the way to those who become the future parents, doctors, police, judges, scientists, world leaders, etc.\n\nAnyone out there who doesn't understand the value of the work of a teacher after reading the previous posts, please go to the site I've attached and read "Three Letters from Teddy".  They say it all!
69394
"The way you see the problem IS the problem." Stephen R. Covey, to borrow one of MJ23 4Life's sources, has certainly given any reader of his book something to mull over, even if the aforementioned quote is the only thing that they take away from his writings. Perception. It seems obvious, but it really is something that goes overlooked constantly – human beings are blest (or cursed) with the ability to rationalize anything. While your current feelings are very likely the byproduct of any number of events leading up to this moment in time, whether or not you let any of your misgivings ruin your day is completely up to you. Is this a highly idealistic concept? Yes, I think so. Several other posts have mentioned this sentiment, but if you are really not satisfied with being a teacher of kindergarten students, then perhaps you should go exploring outside of your comfort zone and attempt to instruct children during another phase of their early development. Also, salary should really be of no concern if you are doing something that you are truly passionate about. In the management courses I have taken (this doesn’t make me an expert) we have studied how there is absolutely no correlation between pay and one’s intrinsic desire to do work. Money can only take you so far and it certainly “can’t buy me love,” as the Beatles would say. You can justify this to yourself however you like. Good teachers are few and far between and if it is your goal to become a good one, and not just another statistic, then perhaps it is time to cast any doubts you may have aside and start to focus on why it is that you will be good at what you do. Life really is too short to spend all of your days questioning what it is that you are doing here.
558367
1. Salary. Teachers don't make nearly what they should.\n\n2. Stress. States want tests done every year to track how smart students are. The higher the test scores, the more funding the schools get. Schools want money. Teachers are pressured more to prepare kids for tests than to actually teach.\n\n3. Kids. Times have changed. Kids act differently today than 10-15 years ago. ADHD is more prevalent. Kids are less repectful. Students are not as interested in learning.\n\n4. Recruiting. Teachers are retiring, and because of the reasons above, less people are choosing careers in public education.\n\nThere are always exceptions, of course. (Not all kids are bad!! Don't get me wrong!). My parents have taught school for 34 years, so I've heard their complaints over the years.
628393
The national average starting salary for a first-year teacher is around $28,000, with the national average with all experience and professional education levels at about $41,000.\n\nWhat this doesn't reflect is that these are gross pay amounts, and don't show the deductions for taxes, mandatory retirement account contributions, health and life insurance, professional dues, continuing education for professional development tuition, etc. Plan on your take-home being about half what your gross pay is. Plus, you'll be spending quite a bit out-of-pocket for your classroom, especially in your first year or two, until you build your own materials and curriculum stockpile.\n\nEach district offers pay based on a state baseline, adding in stipends based on your education and experience, the rarity of your subject/speciality, and the difficulty of the district (e.g. poverty/Title 1, etc.).\n\nVery rarely, a teacher can earn much more... if they have many years of experience, an advanced degree, are teaching in a school offering higher pay due to being in a difficult neighborhood, are teaching a hard-to-find subject like math or science, and also coach/sponsor a couple of stipended sports or clubs. However, someone doing that may be making lots more money, but they can't really have any family or any sort of life outside of the school and the extracurricular activities and clubs.\n\nGet a pay scale from your local district to see what they're paying. But remember, you can't go into teaching if you're planning on making lots of money.
608708
Hi there, I am from Europe,I was a teacher of English as a foreign language in the Czech Republic. Now I teach English here in the USA. Comparing CZ with US brings up many differences and also many simmilarities. As far as finances, US is incomparable. I used to make $200 biweekly in the CZ, now with the same amount of experience I bring home $1500 (both net). As far as students, kids in Europe are so much different and much more appreciative. I was wondering why, there are many factors influencing it. E.g. kids don't get things, toys,junk anytime they wish to, kids have to earn money themselves to get what they want, they spend more time with families, more time outside and more time with the books...lots of them were brought up without TV, without DVD, CD, VCR....they learned to entertain themselves by playing the musical instruments or playing outside games. Mentality of these children is so much different. Also partents have more respect, you cannot put your kid in front of TV, next to the PS2 and 2 pop corn bags and expect miracles...WHy do I teach here? Well, I am an optimist, I still believe that I can change at least some of them, influence their lives and enrich their thinking....who knows, they might do the same in future for other kids...If I had the power to "save" at least one kid in my educational career, I could say I was a successfull teacher. Hopefully there are more than one though....:) I don't have behavior problems, although I teach in Abbott district, belive or not, love, understanding, humor, motivation and optimism will always do!
130671
Our teachers are underpaid and whiny i would suggest you look elsewhere... if your heart is set on it california needs teachers badly,  but with a masters degree i would imagine u start off at 35k/ year heres some websites.\nhttp://www.teachforamerica.org/flash_movie.html\nhttp://www.risenetwork.org/teachers.html\nhttp://www.teacherssupportnetwork.com/Home.do