More first-year teachers get $50K (credit, property taxes, health insurance)

[emilo81]

If you've never been a teacher or worked in a school closely with a teacher you don't understand the hard work and dedication it takes. Given there are some teachers that flat out stink but you can't fire them because of tenure. Which i think is a horrible idea but you can't fight the NJEA, they are too powerful and have too many politicians in their pockets.

[Rollersk8]

I also think teachers have it pretty good, though I would never say so to a teacher-friend's face, because they scare me.

[kelljoe1002]

I am a teacher with 5 yrs experience in NYC. My husband is a nurse with 2 years experience. His starting salary with an associates degree in Nursing was much more than my starting salary with a BS and then a Masters and he works less days per year than I do. I still don't make the annual salary that he does.Yes my pension is better than his but other benefits are pretty much the same. I rarely hear people bashing nurses and I know there are many horrible nurses out there who sit on their behinds for most of their shift. However, teachers can be bashed by anyone. Yes I know taxes pay our salaries but in a way our healthcare costs pay nurses salaries.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by kelljoe1002

I rarely hear people bashing nurses and I know there are many horrible nurses out there who sit on their behinds for most of their shift. However, teachers can be bashed by anyone. Yes I know taxes pay our salaries but in a way our healthcare costs pay nurses salaries.

Healthcare costs are a choice; taxes are not.

[mczabe]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

Healthcare costs are a choice; taxes are not.

Kinda, unless of course you are on Medicare or Medicaid or such...but that's not too much tax money.

Without quality education there would be no quality healthcare, and without quality healthcare, we are dead or at least wish we were. Seems like neither area is one we would want to skimp on...

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by mczabe

Kinda, unless of course you are on Medicare or Medicaid or such...but that's not too much tax money.

Without quality education there would be no quality healthcare, and without quality healthcare, we are dead or at least wish we were. Seems like neither area is one we would want to skimp on...

Ehhh.... quality education existed long before this country did. Quality education also exists in states other than new jersey, and they get it done for a whole hell of a lot less money (you know, because its not wasted.).

[Bored2Day]

Originally Posted by joe moving

Cu I came up with a pretty close number. About 40k. As a working professional, renting, working and driving to work in New Jersey, you pretty much NEED to make 40k to get by. 10k taxes, take home 30k and spend all of it. Could get by on 35k.

Renting isn't actually the American dream. I am doing all of the above as a teacher and barely making ends meet. Throw a child into the factor and see how far you get in NJ. I have a masters degree in education. Most people in other careers holding masters degrees make a lot more than teachers. I qualify for moderate income housing according to the NJ standards. Doesn't that say something for my teacher salary? Sure other states pay less but I have never struggled this badly in my life trying to make it here in NJ. There are other things wrong here to worry about rather than teacher salaries. I am not living the high life.

[mczabe]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

Ehhh.... quality education existed long before this country did. Quality education also exists in states other than new jersey, and they get it done for a whole hell of a lot less money (you know, because its not wasted.).

Very true - but I believe the wasted money in education is not to be found in teachers' salaries.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by mczabe

Very true - but I believe the wasted money in education is not to be found in teachers' salaries.

At $50k to start, tying in all the benefits we the taxpayers pay for, I'd have to disagree. Its a small part, but one part nonetheless.

[mczabe]

Then I guess I wish we would spend more time addressing the larger parts before having 22 pages of discussion on teachers being overpaid.

Obviously, many people feel that $50K is too much for a teacher's starting salary, so you've got lots of company.

In my opinion though, seeing that that same teacher is going to be making about $10k more than that 10 years from now, while being required to receive an advanced degree on his or her own dime...And seeing that if that teacher can survive 35 years and obtain a Doctorate, he or she might break $100 in the highest paid districts... I don' begrudge him or her a decent start.