Why are teachers always complaining about being low paid?

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Dec 10, 2005
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Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Ironically, teachers who think 42k (or whatever they make) is one step above the poverty line can't be very good teachers... Your mom makes 90k? Basically teachers are upper class after 25 years then

90K is upper class?

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
42k is definitely not bad for a starting wage out of college, heck it is on par with most other undergrad majors except engineering.

To be a teacher requires graduate level education of some type in most parts of the country. It isn't fair to compare a teacher's starting salary with that of someone who only needed a BA/BS.
 

fleshconsumed

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2002
6,485
2,363
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Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Teachers get paid just fine for the jobs they do. Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot. Have great benefits.

Teaching is one of the easiest degrees to get.

And...the real reason they don't have a right to bitch: THEY KNEW ALL THIS BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO BE TEACHERS

actually i don't think many understand what they are getting into. sure they know the hours are long and pay sucks.

But the other BS such as putting up with Adminstration, the effects of the Teachers union, hovering parents etc. is a shock.

I know my wife was amazed at how much bs each one puts up. NONE of them really care to do whats best for the kids. just whats best for themselves.

she had idas of helping kids. teaching them the knowlege they need to be succefull. but the adminstration says what you must teach (heaven forbid its standard testing time!) and the Teachers union can't give 2 craps about the kids at all. it would happily screw them all to get the teachers a extra buck an hour.

not to mention the politics being played.

Change administration to bosses/ceo's and hovering parents to clients and you have any other regular job.
 

doze

Platinum Member
Jul 26, 2005
2,786
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0
Teachers salary starts off pretty good in TX especially in large cities but the raises are crap. A teacher who makes 40K to start will be lucky to make 60K per year after 25 years. Other professionals who start at 40K could easily make 60K in 5~10 years
 

Engineer

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
39,230
701
126
Originally posted by: dudeman007
Originally posted by: OVerLoRDI
42k isn't that much for the amount of crap you have to put up with from annoying kids. Especially if you are working in an inner city school with our wonderful youth.

Teachers do it for the kids....or else they wouldn't be teachers.

I tend to agree with that. The amount of education that they have to receive and the effort that they have to put into their job for what they get paid...

And if anyone thinks that a teacher works a simple 9 months worth of time (40 hours a week for 9 months) to get the 42k really needs to get their head out of the sand. Sure, there are exceptions to that (every teacher isn't going to bust their hump just as every employee of any other company isn't going to bust their hump), but most go well above the 40 per week.

Just how many of you are willing to get a Masters (in anything) and then look at a 42k per year job to start?

I find it ironic that many will pony up $60 to $100 per hour for a mechanic or lawyer, but fuss over $22 per hour for someone to groom your children.

My wife works as a teacher's aid and she knows full well what those people go through. They are worth every penny (with very few exceptions).
 

w3stfa11

Golden Member
Aug 8, 2006
1,129
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Originally posted by: joshsquall
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: joshsquall
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
You're thinking that they work from 8am-3pm and that's it. Wrong. They put in hours outside of the classroom everyday getting ready for the next days lessons. Not to mention grading tests, reports, quizzes, etc once they get home.

And I doubt most teachers sit on their assess all summer either. They're probably either teaching a summer course or two, or taking classes and refresher courses themselves. Considering the hours they put in outside of the classroom and the amount of crap they have to put up with, $42,000/yr is nothing IMO.

I don't think you know many teachers very well, or you know pretty inefficient teachers. After 1-2 years, a majority of teachers have their lesson plans created which they will use for the next 10-15 years (obviously this can vary based on the volatility of subject matter and social trends). Most teachers also do not spend hours every night at home grading assignments. Most schools have teachers actually teaching during 50-80% of the day. During the time that students aren't being directly taught or supervised (ex. during in class written assignments, films, resource classes, lunch, planning period, study hall, etc.), most teachers get their grading done. My SO and her mother are both special ed teachers, one of the most demanding specialties in terms of individualized lesson plans and IUPs, and they rarely have work to bring home. I, on the other hand, as a developer work until 7pm each evening and routinely put in 12 hour days when preparing for a deadline.

A majority of teachers don't sit on their asses all summer. They clean, garden, play with their kids, etc. If they do choose to teach a summer course or two, they are being paid for it. I go to technical training several times a year - I think teachers can handle their continuing education courses.

$42K a year at 7 hours a day for 9 months of the year is equal to around $32 an hour. I feel so horrible for teachers.

You're either ignorant, or totally blind. NO FULL-TIME school teacher only works 7 hours per day. MOST put in 7-9 at school, PLUS 4 or more at home working on the little stuff they don't get paid for...grading papers, lesson plans, ect. MAYBE some have lesson plans they use from year to year, but subject matter (escept the hard sciences) changes from year to year, and new textbooks come out fairly frequently, so lesson plans have to be changed to accomodate those changes as well. Gone are the days when the world was static, when a school could use the same geography or history books for many years in a row. Hell, even math and science books change fairly frequently to keep up with changes in the world. (remember, .999 =! 1.000)

You're either an idiot or you didn't read my entire post. If the teachers you know are putting in 4 hours a day at home, every day, they don't know what the hell they're doing.

EDIT: Do you actually know any teachers, or are you just making up crap for arguments sake, like most ATOTers?

I do actually know a teacher that worked several hours at home after school grading papers and talking to parents and students about extra help and then preparing lesson plans for the next day. I'm curious, do you happen to know any teachers or are you just making up crap?
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
Originally posted by: joshsquall
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
You're thinking that they work from 8am-3pm and that's it. Wrong. They put in hours outside of the classroom everyday getting ready for the next days lessons. Not to mention grading tests, reports, quizzes, etc once they get home.

And I doubt most teachers sit on their assess all summer either. They're probably either teaching a summer course or two, or taking classes and refresher courses themselves. Considering the hours they put in outside of the classroom and the amount of crap they have to put up with, $42,000/yr is nothing IMO.

I don't think you know many teachers very well, or you know pretty inefficient teachers. After 1-2 years, a majority of teachers have their lesson plans created which they will use for the next 10-15 years (obviously this can vary based on the volatility of subject matter and social trends). Most teachers also do not spend hours every night at home grading assignments. Most schools have teachers actually teaching during 50-80% of the day. During the time that students aren't being directly taught or supervised (ex. during in class written assignments, films, resource classes, lunch, planning period, study hall, etc.), most teachers get their grading done. My SO and her mother are both special ed teachers, one of the most demanding specialties in terms of individualized lesson plans and IUPs, and they rarely have work to bring home. I, on the other hand, as a developer work until 7pm each evening and routinely put in 12 hour days when preparing for a deadline.

A majority of teachers don't sit on their asses all summer. They clean, garden, play with their kids, etc. If they do choose to teach a summer course or two, they are being paid for it. I go to technical training several times a year - I think teachers can handle their continuing education courses.

$42K a year at 7 hours a day for 9 months of the year is equal to around $32 an hour. I feel so horrible for teachers.

I agree with you 100 percent. Teachers are paid accordingly. My ex makes 45k starting out first year. She's doing well because she planned out her lesson for the year ahead of time and she's a natural for teaching. Yes, she often brought her work home but how many of us that are paid on salary do not? Hell, I do all the time. Hold on, let me alt tab to my work email, I have to reply to my boss on a Saturday..
 

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: boomerang
Teachers chose their profession. If they're not happy with the pay, working conditions, inner-city kids, the color of the walls, the commute, hours or whatever, the solution is simple - find a different job.

I'm tired of the whining from these so-called professionals. I'm tired of it, but I've learned to ignore it.

Where I live their union is very powerful. Every demand the union wants from the taxpayers is "for the kids" but we all know who it's really for.

A teacher can retire with as few as 10 years on the job. The retirement is at full pay plus 1.5% x their years of service. They pay NO Social Security taxes, the school district pays the whole shebang. Their health care coverage is with zero co-pays for any office visit or procedure whatsoever. Recently they put up an enormous fight but relented and now have co-pays for some prescriptions to the tune of $5.

It's fair pay with top-notch benefits. They knew exactly what they were getting into when they took the job. No arm-twisting required.

There's an old saying that goes, "If you can't do anything else, you can always teach".

Quit crying for teachers, it's a great job.

shens> they can not retire in 10 years with full pay plus 1.5%

while they don't pay SS they do pay into a retirement. I doubt very much the insurance is as good as you claim. really.
Read up Don't tell me your doubts, tell me what you know. I can spout off all kinds of sh!t that I think is right.
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
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Originally posted by: boomerang
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: boomerang
Teachers chose their profession. If they're not happy with the pay, working conditions, inner-city kids, the color of the walls, the commute, hours or whatever, the solution is simple - find a different job.

I'm tired of the whining from these so-called professionals. I'm tired of it, but I've learned to ignore it.

Where I live their union is very powerful. Every demand the union wants from the taxpayers is "for the kids" but we all know who it's really for.

A teacher can retire with as few as 10 years on the job. The retirement is at full pay plus 1.5% x their years of service. They pay NO Social Security taxes, the school district pays the whole shebang. Their health care coverage is with zero co-pays for any office visit or procedure whatsoever. Recently they put up an enormous fight but relented and now have co-pays for some prescriptions to the tune of $5.

It's fair pay with top-notch benefits. They knew exactly what they were getting into when they took the job. No arm-twisting required.

There's an old saying that goes, "If you can't do anything else, you can always teach".

Quit crying for teachers, it's a great job.

shens> they can not retire in 10 years with full pay plus 1.5%

while they don't pay SS they do pay into a retirement. I doubt very much the insurance is as good as you claim. really.
Read up Don't tell me your doubts, tell me what you know. I can spout off all kinds of sh!t that I think is right.

Like you said, their insurance is top notch. Hell, it's way better than mine and our company has one of the best benefits packages in our county.
 

doze

Platinum Member
Jul 26, 2005
2,786
0
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: joshsquall
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
You're thinking that they work from 8am-3pm and that's it. Wrong. They put in hours outside of the classroom everyday getting ready for the next days lessons. Not to mention grading tests, reports, quizzes, etc once they get home.

And I doubt most teachers sit on their assess all summer either. They're probably either teaching a summer course or two, or taking classes and refresher courses themselves. Considering the hours they put in outside of the classroom and the amount of crap they have to put up with, $42,000/yr is nothing IMO.

I don't think you know many teachers very well, or you know pretty inefficient teachers. After 1-2 years, a majority of teachers have their lesson plans created which they will use for the next 10-15 years (obviously this can vary based on the volatility of subject matter and social trends). Most teachers also do not spend hours every night at home grading assignments. Most schools have teachers actually teaching during 50-80% of the day. During the time that students aren't being directly taught or supervised (ex. during in class written assignments, films, resource classes, lunch, planning period, study hall, etc.), most teachers get their grading done. My SO and her mother are both special ed teachers, one of the most demanding specialties in terms of individualized lesson plans and IUPs, and they rarely have work to bring home. I, on the other hand, as a developer work until 7pm each evening and routinely put in 12 hour days when preparing for a deadline.

A majority of teachers don't sit on their asses all summer. They clean, garden, play with their kids, etc. If they do choose to teach a summer course or two, they are being paid for it. I go to technical training several times a year - I think teachers can handle their continuing education courses.

$42K a year at 7 hours a day for 9 months of the year is equal to around $32 an hour. I feel so horrible for teachers.

You're either ignorant, or totally blind. NO FULL-TIME school teacher only works 7 hours per day. MOST put in 7-9 at school, PLUS 4 or more at home working on the little stuff they don't get paid for...grading papers, lesson plans, ect. MAYBE some have lesson plans they use from year to year, but subject matter (escept the hard sciences) changes from year to year, and new textbooks come out fairly frequently, so lesson plans have to be changed to accomodate those changes as well. Gone are the days when the world was static, when a school could use the same geography or history books for many years in a row. Hell, even math and science books change fairly frequently to keep up with changes in the world. (remember, .999 =! 1.000)

Sounds like poor time management to me. I know several teachers, family, friends etc... and they occasionally work late evenings or go in on a weekend, but I'm in tech sales and so do I. I'm usually in the office from 8~6 which is about average for a young person in a office type job. Teaching is a job, teachers are professionals, and I see no reason why a teacher working a 10 hour day is a big deal when other professionals work a 10 hour day all the time.
 

fleshconsumed

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2002
6,485
2,363
136
Originally posted by: boomerang
Read up Don't tell me your doubts, tell me what you know. I can spout off all kinds of sh!t that I think is right.


Hahahaha, know nothing ATOT being owned as usual...
 

potoba

Senior member
Oct 17, 2006
738
0
76
Originally posted by: txrandom
Originally posted by: potoba
as they they they dont deserve to be paid that low. They think they're too smart for the money...

Your English teacher didn't get paid enough.

Yeah, my English teacher got paid as low as 85 bucks/month. That is about 1K/year. Well, pay that much for a year to learn a new language and see if you can say anything nice with it...
 

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Teachers get paid just fine for the jobs they do.

Not necessarily. As has been pointed out, great teachers probably don't make enough and have little financial incentive to stay, while poor teachers have way too much job security and little incentive to do better.

Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot.
or work over the holidays to try and make ends meet.

Have great benefits.

Not necessarily. Mine are fairly mediocre, no better than what I had in the private sector.

Teaching is one of the easiest degrees to get.
Usually true, and that's a very bad thing. *disclaimer - my degree isn't in education and an education degree wouldn't qualify for my job.

And...the real reason they don't have a right to bitch: THEY KNEW ALL THIS BEFORE THEY DECIDED TO BE TEACHERS
I don't see why good teachers shouldn't try to seek better wages within their chosen profession. Would it be better for everyone if good teachers leave teaching and go to, say, law school?
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
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Originally posted by: Gibsons


Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot.
or work over the holidays to try and make ends meet.

Even if teachers work the holidays, they still get paid the same for the year. There is no overtime pay for teachers since they're on salary.
 

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: Gibsons


Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot.
or work over the holidays to try and make ends meet.

Even if teachers work the holidays, they still get paid the same for the year. There is no overtime pay for teachers since they're on salary.
I don't get a paycheck over the summer unless I teach over the summer - Like I'm doing right now in between posting. Wanna hear about the classical pathway for complement activation? ;)
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
4,382
5
81
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: joshsquall
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
You're thinking that they work from 8am-3pm and that's it. Wrong. They put in hours outside of the classroom everyday getting ready for the next days lessons. Not to mention grading tests, reports, quizzes, etc once they get home.

And I doubt most teachers sit on their assess all summer either. They're probably either teaching a summer course or two, or taking classes and refresher courses themselves. Considering the hours they put in outside of the classroom and the amount of crap they have to put up with, $42,000/yr is nothing IMO.

I don't think you know many teachers very well, or you know pretty inefficient teachers. After 1-2 years, a majority of teachers have their lesson plans created which they will use for the next 10-15 years (obviously this can vary based on the volatility of subject matter and social trends). Most teachers also do not spend hours every night at home grading assignments. Most schools have teachers actually teaching during 50-80% of the day. During the time that students aren't being directly taught or supervised (ex. during in class written assignments, films, resource classes, lunch, planning period, study hall, etc.), most teachers get their grading done. My SO and her mother are both special ed teachers, one of the most demanding specialties in terms of individualized lesson plans and IUPs, and they rarely have work to bring home. I, on the other hand, as a developer work until 7pm each evening and routinely put in 12 hour days when preparing for a deadline.

A majority of teachers don't sit on their asses all summer. They clean, garden, play with their kids, etc. If they do choose to teach a summer course or two, they are being paid for it. I go to technical training several times a year - I think teachers can handle their continuing education courses.

$42K a year at 7 hours a day for 9 months of the year is equal to around $32 an hour. I feel so horrible for teachers.

I agree with you 100 percent. Teachers are paid accordingly. My ex makes 45k starting out first year. She's doing well because she planned out her lesson for the year ahead of time and she's a natural for teaching. Yes, she often brought her work home but how many of us that are paid on salary do not? Hell, I do all the time. Hold on, let me alt tab to my work email, I have to reply to my boss on a Saturday..

Also, teachers now use Scantrons for tests, you bubble in your answers, they run it through a machine, and done, its graded.

OMG, I have to spend a study hall running papers through a machine.

Most teachers which have experience are in and out pretty quick.

If teachers want to complain, then quit and get another job if its so bad.

Obviously this is NOT the case since they're a lot of graduates going to work in education still.

EDIT: teachers in connecticut make 45K I assume starting but we are the highest paid state, or one of the highest.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: boomerang
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: boomerang
Teachers chose their profession. If they're not happy with the pay, working conditions, inner-city kids, the color of the walls, the commute, hours or whatever, the solution is simple - find a different job.

I'm tired of the whining from these so-called professionals. I'm tired of it, but I've learned to ignore it.

Where I live their union is very powerful. Every demand the union wants from the taxpayers is "for the kids" but we all know who it's really for.

A teacher can retire with as few as 10 years on the job. The retirement is at full pay plus 1.5% x their years of service. They pay NO Social Security taxes, the school district pays the whole shebang. Their health care coverage is with zero co-pays for any office visit or procedure whatsoever. Recently they put up an enormous fight but relented and now have co-pays for some prescriptions to the tune of $5.

It's fair pay with top-notch benefits. They knew exactly what they were getting into when they took the job. No arm-twisting required.

There's an old saying that goes, "If you can't do anything else, you can always teach".

Quit crying for teachers, it's a great job.

shens> they can not retire in 10 years with full pay plus 1.5%

while they don't pay SS they do pay into a retirement. I doubt very much the insurance is as good as you claim. really.
Read up Don't tell me your doubts, tell me what you know. I can spout off all kinds of sh!t that I think is right.

uhm did you read the page?

http://www.michigan.gov/orssch...36451_36454---,00.html

after 30 years (full investment) you get $15k a year (pay was $35)

yeah you can get fully invested with 10 years (long as you retire at 60).

but this is not what you were claiming. that you get full pay+ 1.5% etc


so a teacher working for 10 years gets $5750 a year pension. great!
$35000x1.5%x10= $5750 a year
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: Engineer
Originally posted by: dudeman007
Originally posted by: OVerLoRDI
42k isn't that much for the amount of crap you have to put up with from annoying kids. Especially if you are working in an inner city school with our wonderful youth.

Teachers do it for the kids....or else they wouldn't be teachers.

I tend to agree with that. The amount of education that they have to receive and the effort that they have to put into their job for what they get paid...

And if anyone thinks that a teacher works a simple 9 months worth of time (40 hours a week for 9 months) to get the 42k really needs to get their head out of the sand. Sure, there are exceptions to that (every teacher isn't going to bust their hump just as every employee of any other company isn't going to bust their hump), but most go well above the 40 per week.

Just how many of you are willing to get a Masters (in anything) and then look at a 42k per year job to start?

I find it ironic that many will pony up $60 to $100 per hour for a mechanic or lawyer, but fuss over $22 per hour for someone to groom your children.

My wife works as a teacher's aid and she knows full well what those people go through. They are worth every penny (with very few exceptions).

:thumbsup: Well said.
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
Originally posted by: Gibsons
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: Gibsons


Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot.
or work over the holidays to try and make ends meet.

Even if teachers work the holidays, they still get paid the same for the year. There is no overtime pay for teachers since they're on salary.
I don't get a paycheck over the summer unless I teach over the summer - Like I'm doing right now in between posting. Wanna hear about the classical pathway for complement activation? ;)

That sucks! My ex gets a paycheck no matter what. I'll pass on the lesson for today, thanks ;)
 
Dec 10, 2005
25,023
8,298
136
Originally posted by: BouZouki
Also, teachers now use Scantrons for tests, you bubble in your answers, they run it through a machine, and done, its graded.

OMG, I have to spend a study hall running papers through a machine.

Most teachers which have experience are in and out pretty quick.

If teachers want to complain, then quit and get another job if its so bad.

Obviously this is NOT the case since they're a lot of graduates going to work in education still.

EDIT: teachers in connecticut make 45K I assume starting but we are the highest paid state, or one of the highest.

I hope you know, not all tests are multiple choice. Some teachers want to see if you can understand the material and apply it so they make short-answer and essay tests. Scantrons and multiple choice are not the be all, end all of testing.
 

RadioHead84

Platinum Member
Jan 8, 2004
2,166
0
0
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: Gibsons
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: Gibsons


Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot.
or work over the holidays to try and make ends meet.

Even if teachers work the holidays, they still get paid the same for the year. There is no overtime pay for teachers since they're on salary.
I don't get a paycheck over the summer unless I teach over the summer - Like I'm doing right now in between posting. Wanna hear about the classical pathway for complement activation? ;)

That sucks! My ex gets a paycheck no matter what. I'll pass on the lesson for today, thanks ;)

I believe that teachers get the option of choosing if they want their paycheck spread out for a year or for the time they are actually working.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: RadioHead84
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: Gibsons
Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Originally posted by: Gibsons


Work 9 months a year, have lots of holidays during those 9 months to boot.
or work over the holidays to try and make ends meet.

Even if teachers work the holidays, they still get paid the same for the year. There is no overtime pay for teachers since they're on salary.
I don't get a paycheck over the summer unless I teach over the summer - Like I'm doing right now in between posting. Wanna hear about the classical pathway for complement activation? ;)

That sucks! My ex gets a paycheck no matter what. I'll pass on the lesson for today, thanks ;)

I believe that teachers get the option of choosing if they want their paycheck spread out for a year or for the time they are actually working.


yeap. my wife would always have hers done over 12 months. makes planning the budget much more easy.
 

slpaulson

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2000
4,408
12
81
If I recall correctly, starting teachers in central Wisconsin only make about $30k. Granted central Wisconsin is a pretty cheap place to live, but that's still a pretty low salary.