Why is teacher pay so low in AZ? (Yuma: 2014, felony)

[bigdogmom13]

Originally Posted by Burkmere

No one said they weren't hard working. So are baristas at starbucks, clerks at Circle K, attorneys, CEOs, construction laborers.

What's your point?

First of all, the CEO's and attorneys make one hell of a lot more than teachers. Second: baristas, Circle K clerks, and construction laborers don't have to take their work home with them. Teachers are expected to hold after-hours parent/teacher conferences, take home papers to grade, prepare lesson plans, and attend after-school functions. They are expected to encourage their students to want to learn, instill some discipline and self-esteem in these kids, and be watching for signs of parental abuse/neglect.

[jgustav]

Originally Posted by CaliRestoration

California Public schools are some of the worst in the country. What exactly are paying MORE for?

As California taxpayers, they are paying for the California State Teachers Retirement System - eleventh largest public pension fund in the world. Poor school performance doesn't impact the teacher pensions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalSTRS

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by bigdogmom13

First of all, the CEO's and attorneys make one hell of a lot more than teachers. Second: baristas, Circle K clerks, and construction laborers don't have to take their work home with them. Teachers are expected to hold after-hours parent/teacher conferences, take home papers to grade, prepare lesson plans, and attend after-school functions. They are expected to encourage their students to want to learn, instill some discipline and self-esteem in these kids, and be watching for signs of parental abuse/neglect.

I still don't know what your point is? Do you? Are you saying that teachers should make more money? If so, it will be more competitive and many who want to be teachers won't be able to cut it because they will be competing against those potential engineers, attorneys, doctors, etc. who may change their mind if they are paid more than teachers make now.

As I also mentioned, one doesn't have to stop at being a teacher. There are many highly paid educational jobs besides teaching if one is sharp and wants to progress.

So, if your point is they work hard, then my comment about many high and low paid professions work hard and some do take their work home with them.

If your point is they should be paid more, well, taxes will go up, and many who want to become teachers will be competing against others who will go for the increased salary and they won't be able to be teachers anyway.
Obviously, private school teachers are paid less on average and are very successful at it so you will have a hard time convincing me teachers should be paid all that much more. (Some Districts across the nation DO pay well. However, again, it's hard to get a job in those districts and if someone could, well, then MOVE. Vote with the feet!

And if it's so bad, then they shouldn't torture themselves. They should get another job. Let's also not forget the nice pension they get in their 50s once they retire. Easy to gloss over that, isn't it??

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by jgustav

As California taxpayers, they are paying for the California State Teachers Retirement System - eleventh largest public pension fund in the world. Poor school performance doesn't impact the teacher pensions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalSTRS

Yes, this fantastic benefit isn't often brought up by the "poor teacher" crowd. Teachers who start teaching in their early 20s out of college can easily retire in their 50s with a decent pension. And it's almost impossible for them to get fired. Private sector folks generally don't have a pension. They can easily get fired and generally do at some point in their careers or at least laid off. They also work more than 185 or so days a year. And believe it or not, many work long hours, too!! They are also paid what the market will bear. They are paid their "real worth" as defined by supply and demand. Publc sector teachers are not paid according to supply and demand for the most part. If they were, they'd be paid what private sector teachers are paid.

[veritased]

Originally Posted by DKM

For the same reason property taxes are lower there. I remember a big reason we relocated to CA vs. AZ was the school system. But you'll have to pay more taxes my Phoenix friends shrieked. Yeah but you get what you pay for...

Haha, you didn't look into things enough. If you did, you'd have found out that in Cali, teachers get tenure after TWO years. TWO. And then they simply can't get fired without committing a serious crime, because the teachers union is all over earning those dues.

Hence, in our high school in Silicon Valley, in a neighborhood where outside folks paid much $'s to move into, while we had some decent teachers, there were more than several very bad teachers, which would ruin a students K-12 experience.

I don't about AZ, but I hope the unions don't have that much leverage.

I do agree that teachers should be paid more. Parents need to drive the fat out of school administration, and make sure more money gets to well performing teachers paychecks.

[bigdogmom13]

Originally Posted by Burkmere

I still don't know what your point is? Do you? Are you saying that teachers should make more money? If so, it will be more competitive and many who want to be teachers won't be able to cut it because they will be competing against those potential engineers, attorneys, doctors, etc. who may change their mind if they are paid more than teachers make now.

As I also mentioned, one doesn't have to stop at being a teacher. There are many highly paid educational jobs besides teaching if one is sharp and wants to progress.

So, if your point is they work hard, then my comment about many high and low paid professions work hard and some do take their work home with them.

If your point is they should be paid more, well, taxes will go up, and many who want to become teachers will be competing against others who will go for the increased salary and they won't be able to be teachers anyway.
Obviously, private school teachers are paid less on average and are very successful at it so you will have a hard time convincing me teachers should be paid all that much more. (Some Districts across the nation DO pay well. However, again, it's hard to get a job in those districts and if someone could, well, then MOVE. Vote with the feet!

And if it's so bad, then they shouldn't torture themselves. They should get another job. Let's also not forget the nice pension they get in their 50s once they retire. Easy to gloss over that, isn't it??

Originally Posted by Burkmere

No one said they weren't hard working. So are baristas at starbucks, clerks at Circle K, attorneys, CEOs, construction laborers.

What's your point?

My "point" was in response to quote #2. Not trying to make any point, nor do I want to debate you on the subject.

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by bigdogmom13

My "point" was in response to quote #2. Not trying to make any point, nor do I want to debate you on the subject.

Nothing to debate unless you want to debate "facts." Have a nice day.

[CaliRestoration]

Originally Posted by jgustav

As California taxpayers, they are paying for the California State Teachers Retirement System - eleventh largest public pension fund in the world. Poor school performance doesn't impact the teacher pensions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalSTRS

Bingo.

I love when people use the "I pay more taxes so I get more!" argument.

Usually people from California.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by Handymanjojo

I recently moved here and have found out that the average teacher pay is $33-39k. My question is, why is teacher pay so low in Arizona? How can teachers live on that income with the cost of living? I think teachers deserve the respect of a liveable wage for all that they do to shape the future of our state.

I assume it's because Arizona is traditionally Republican, and Republicans generally don't like to spend money on education.

[flint8ball]

Why not eliminate public schools? If you have kids, pay for their education directly. Reduce government spending/taxes. Privately run schools perform better. Government mucks up most enterprises. See TSA, USPS etc.

As for the OP, from what I understand, beginning salaries for teachers are usually quite low but over time they grow pretty well and job security is strong. I know where I live teachers start here and leave for "better" once they get experience. It's a revolving door of young teachers.