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You see, that's the problem. If higher pay meant better teachers, then I'm all for that. But it just isn't the case in the real world.
Like I said above, people in all professions should be paid according to their performance. Not an artificial pay scale, not according to what some union negotiated, not according to tenure. Performance, period.
I'm sure there are plenty of teachers who are mediocre or even bad in the high-pay school districts, making well over 50 grand, while there are excellent teachers who work their butts off and whose students excel, and they are making peanuts. They can apply to get into those higher paying districts, but there aren't openings. They are filled by a lot of people protected by tenure who are mediocre at best.
You have the poor performing teachers making a bunch of money, taking up space in the higher-paying places, and no one can touch them because of tenure. So great teachers, taxpayers, and kids suffer while mediocrity rules the public schools.
Ok so your point is that low performing teachers are overpaid! Gotcha no argument there. Does anyone disagree with that? Had that been the tread title this thread would have been a page long.
I also believe that the majority of the teachers do not fit into that "excellent" category, but into the mediocre and poor categories.
I have no problem with the cream of the crop making a good salary at my expense, but I resent my tax dollars going to support the ones who are a complete waste of skin.
I also believe that the majority of the teachers do not fit into that "excellent" category, but into the mediocre and poor categories.
I have no problem with the cream of the crop making a good salary at my expense, but I resent my tax dollars going to support the ones who are a complete waste of skin.
Ok, and your kids have not had good teachers but someone is wanting to pay them and it may be that there are more of them than you.
i also believe that the majority of the teachers do not fit into that "excellent" category, but into the mediocre and poor categories.
I have no problem with the cream of the crop making a good salary at my expense, but i resent my tax dollars going to support the ones who are a complete waste of skin.
I also believe that the majority of the teachers do not fit into that "excellent" category, but into the mediocre and poor categories.
I have no problem with the cream of the crop making a good salary at my expense, but I resent my tax dollars going to support the ones who are a complete waste of skin.
Well now you know your task. Convince your fellow local citizens of the mediocrity and that you need to rein salaries in and I suspect you would also want to have them cut. It is to late for this budget cycle but you can probably get the ball rolling for the upcoming budget process.
I'm confused where the OP and others are getting the idea that teachers all over the country are making this high salary (70,000 and up.) I have lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Missouri, and am familiar with all the surrounding states as I have looked into teaching in many areas (husband's job moves around often), and have not found any salaries that exceed 47,000 (I have my bachelor's degree and four years teaching experience at the high school level). The districts that pay 47,000, the most desirable districts in Texas, are *extremely* competitive, and you can only get in with connections and usually a Master's degree (when there are even positions open - this summer has been awful in the teaching market, and schools are all on hiring freezes). I have not made more than 27,000 each year I have taught, and my friends in education in this are of the country all have similar salaries. So yes, with the exception of maybe a few districts in PA, teachers ARE incredibly underpaid, especially for the work they do (and I'm sorry, if you have *not* worked in education and have not been a teacher, you have NO IDEA what the job requirements entail). I stopped in at my local McDonalds on a fund-raising night and noticed the manager's salary (posted due to recent hiring) exceeded my 4 year Bachelor's degree and four years teaching experience salary. SAD.
I'm confused where the OP and others are getting the idea that teachers all over the country are making this high salary (70,000 and up.) I have lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Missouri, and am familiar with all the surrounding states as I have looked into teaching in many areas (husband's job moves around often), and have not found any salaries that exceed 47,000 (I have my bachelor's degree and four years teaching experience at the high school level). The districts that pay 47,000, the most desirable districts in Texas, are *extremely* competitive, and you can only get in with connections and usually a Master's degree (when there are even positions open - this summer has been awful in the teaching market, and schools are all on hiring freezes). I have not made more than 27,000 each year I have taught, and my friends in education in this are of the country all have similar salaries. So yes, with the exception of maybe a few districts in PA, teachers ARE incredibly underpaid, especially for the work they do (and I'm sorry, if you have *not* worked in education and have not been a teacher, you have NO IDEA what the job requirements entail). I stopped in at my local McDonalds on a fund-raising night and noticed the manager's salary (posted due to recent hiring) exceeded my 4 year Bachelor's degree and four years teaching experience salary. SAD.
Maybe their assumptions and fact finding process are a product of not being taught by the 70K plus teachers?
I'm confused where the OP and others are getting the idea that teachers all over the country are making this high salary (70,000 and up.) I have lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Missouri, and am familiar with all the surrounding states as I have looked into teaching in many areas (husband's job moves around often), and have not found any salaries that exceed 47,000 (I have my bachelor's degree and four years teaching experience at the high school level). The districts that pay 47,000, the most desirable districts in Texas, are *extremely* competitive, and you can only get in with connections and usually a Master's degree (when there are even positions open - this summer has been awful in the teaching market, and schools are all on hiring freezes). I have not made more than 27,000 each year I have taught, and my friends in education in this are of the country all have similar salaries. So yes, with the exception of maybe a few districts in PA, teachers ARE incredibly underpaid, especially for the work they do (and I'm sorry, if you have *not* worked in education and have not been a teacher, you have NO IDEA what the job requirements entail). I stopped in at my local McDonalds on a fund-raising night and noticed the manager's salary (posted due to recent hiring) exceeded my 4 year Bachelor's degree and four years teaching experience salary. SAD.
Two thoughts:
If you are getting paid $27,000/year I think you are very much underpaid.
Why not apply for the manager's job? Schools in your area pay $27,000 because apparently some are willing to work for it. Why not tell them thanks but no thanks? Since you move around a lot I assume you won't be able to accrue the benefits of seniority anyway. You could always get back into teaching when you move to an area of the country where salaries are higher.
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