What does Maine pay teachers? (Portland, Lewiston: house, to buy, middle school)

[mollysmiles]

so we need to not teach because our kids deserve a better educational system....oh, now I get it.

[MaineMathTCHER]

Maine has a state starting teaching salary of 30,000-not 15,500! I just came from Texas and the difference in salaries is not that different! I have a masters and experience and will make close to what I made in Texas. Compared to when I taught in California it is much less, but my housing and costs were four times more and then some. I teach because it is my life's work, and being in Maine I can have a nice home and be comfortable on my salary-more than I can say when I made 20,000 more in california! Compare Apples to Apples!!

[flycessna]

last year while hiking I met a nice young lady from South Africa who is a Teacher in Ma. for the city of Boston. I started a conversation with herbecause my sister in law is from South Africa. She was a teacher in Africa, she then went and lived in england and taught there before coming here. She told me that England was the pits and was much worse off then america. She was very impressed with Boston schools and even more impressed with the surrounding communities. Just thought I'd mention it. I am pretty sure that socialist england is dumping way more money at education then we are. What about Japan, or India. Whats making them so much more competative. It's their education, the course of study, and mostly its their values as individuals that are tought at home. My Mother in laws kindergarden class (a few years ago) of about 23 students, we went down the list and saw that 19 students out of the 23 were either medicated for ad-adhd, or diagnosed with some sort of learning disability and recieved services. so I guess were gonna get 4 lawyers, 3 politicians, 8 government employee's, 5 walmart workers, and 3 on welfare. Oh well!

[ALToons]

30-50k?! I'd like to know where you live! Not saying its not true, but that not what I see...

It more like 17-19k for starting teachers and then grows as your seniority grows.
Again, not doubting your statement, but shocked to see that there is some place that actually pays their teachers a livable salary.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by ALToons

30-50k?! I'd like to know where you live! Not saying its not true, but that not what I see...

It more like 17-19k for starting teachers and then grows as your seniority grows.
Again, not doubting your statement, but shocked to see that there is some place that actually pays their teachers a livable salary.

Ok i'd like to know where its that low for starting teachers? I do not know why all the debate, it's all public info. In lew/aub your starting pay will be
30k +-. My mother in law is making 50k at top step with a ma degree in lewiston. My brother in law is making 35k +- in lewiston with 5 or so years in teaching. My good friend in yarmouth is making upper 40's low 50's with a Ba degree and 15 yrs. All of them own a home drive a decent car and seem to get alonf just fine. they all have summer jobs too which add to their pay.

[ALToons]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Ok i'd like to know where its that low for starting teachers? I do not know why all the debate, it's all public info. In lew/aub your starting pay will be
30k +-. My mother in law is making 50k at top step with a ma degree in lewiston. My brother in law is making 35k +- in lewiston with 5 or so years in teaching. My good friend in yarmouth is making upper 40's low 50's with a Ba degree and 15 yrs. All of them own a home drive a decent car and seem to get alonf just fine. they all have summer jobs too which add to their pay.

Figures... Now that I need it, I cant find it!

That is from a Chelsea Town Report that I got from an in-law. The highest paid was the principal that was approx. 40k. The next highest was the administration (secretaries). The teachers were much less.

It was a major decision to not move there, low paid teachers = forget it!
Ok it was that AND the fact that its a junk car graveyard town.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by ALToons

Figures... Now that I need it, I cant find it!

That is from a Chelsea Town Report that I got from an in-law. The highest paid was the principal that was approx. 40k. The next highest was the administration (secretaries). The teachers were much less.

It was a major decision to not move there, low paid teachers = forget it!
Ok it was that AND the fact that its a junk car graveyard town.

I think your gonna find the schools are a representation of the area they serve. If it is a poor area then most likely the school funding will be lack luster. But also municpalities are realizing that a good school system attracts families who are concerned about education, better demographics usually bring better jobs. its a little backwards but sometimes thats how it has to work. Lew/aub Portland area and anywhere in cumberland county and york county have to pay just to keep up with the col in that area. Lewiston IMO pays very well and has good working conditions.

[loges]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Ok i'd like to know where its that low for starting teachers? I do not know why all the debate, it's all public info. In lew/aub your starting pay will be
30k +-. My mother in law is making 50k at top step with a ma degree in lewiston. My brother in law is making 35k +- in lewiston with 5 or so years in teaching. My good friend in yarmouth is making upper 40's low 50's with a Ba degree and 15 yrs. All of them own a home drive a decent car and seem to get alonf just fine. they all have summer jobs too which add to their pay.

I wish them well, and am real glad they have a lifestyle, my argument, however, is that starting teachers live BELOW the poverty level. What a disgrace... And people complain and berate teachers wanting to climb out of the discrace of poverty???? What??? Oh, yea, gotta throw 750+ billion away in IRAQ. Forgot about that.

Most people who choose to become educators acknowledge that they will “not become rich”; rather they report that they work for the love of the profession. Nonetheless, there is an important distinction between “becoming rich”and earning enough money to live. A recent article in the Bangor Daily News (Seavey, November 1, 1999) suggests that the current salaries earned by new teachers in the state may not be sufficient for survival. A study entitled “Getting by in 1999: Basic Needs and Livable Wages in Maine”conducted by Christopher St. John and Lisa Pohlmann at the Maine Center for Economic Policy shows that the minimum annual salary “just to get by”is $17,750 for a single individual and $23,732 for a single parent with one child. Comparing these numbers to the starting salaries earned by teachers demonstrates that an unmarried teacher will barely be able to afford basic expenses such as food, rent, and utilities (and a single parent will be below this threshold). When you add the additional expense of student loan payments, which become due six months after graduation, it is easy to see why many teachers become frustrated and simply cannot afford to teach in Maine. In sum, it is unfair to expect well-educated, intelligent people to continue to seek out jobs as teachers. Despite people’s genuine interest in contributing to children’s welfare in the state, teachers cannot afford to do so at the expense of their own livelihood.

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by loges

I wish them well, and am real glad they have a lifestyle, my argument, however, is that starting teachers live BELOW the poverty level. What a disgrace... And people complain and berate teachers wanting to climb out of the discrace of poverty???? What??? Oh, yea, gotta throw 750+ billion away in IRAQ. Forgot about that.

Most people who choose to become educators acknowledge that they will “not become rich”; rather they report that they work for the love of the profession. Nonetheless, there is an important distinction between “becoming rich”and earning enough money to live. A recent article in the Bangor Daily News (Seavey, November 1, 1999) suggests that the current salaries earned by new teachers in the state may not be sufficient for survival. A study entitled “Getting by in 1999: Basic Needs and Livable Wages in Maine”conducted by Christopher St. John and Lisa Pohlmann at the Maine Center for Economic Policy shows that the minimum annual salary “just to get by”is $17,750 for a single individual and $23,732 for a single parent with one child. Comparing these numbers to the starting salaries earned by teachers demonstrates that an unmarried teacher will barely be able to afford basic expenses such as food, rent, and utilities (and a single parent will be below this threshold). When you add the additional expense of student loan payments, which become due six months after graduation, it is easy to see why many teachers become frustrated and simply cannot afford to teach in Maine. In sum, it is unfair to expect well-educated, intelligent people to continue to seek out jobs as teachers. Despite people’s genuine interest in contributing to children’s welfare in the state, teachers cannot afford to do so at the expense of their own livelihood.

first of all a "recent article" to me is not 8 years old in the life of a daily newspaper. And you've yet to tell us where there's a teacher in Maine starting a $15,500 or even $17,750. Flycessna and MaineMath and I have all told you this isn't happening, yet you insist that it is. Where?

[Elcarim]

I believe you have quite obviously chosen the wrong profession, and as critical as you are of it, I'm not quite sure why you chose it. I must say that I would not want you teaching my children.