I am a compensation expert and you seem to be a nice well meaning person. But please stop the myth of teacher salaries in comparison to anything. I'm sure that you misspoke when you said salaries are less than the rate of inflation. The comp would be rates of increase and rates of inflation. I doubt your3.9 number for inflation and quoting an increase on the "average" pay hides too many issues. Compare the 5year step with someone in industry in their position for 5years and increase the teacher pay by 20% (number of days worked less than industry). In that case 70k becomes 84k, etc. Add to that a benefits package that no one in a profit making world could afford and a work day that is usually less than 8 hours and one sees a lucrative job. The real test of wages is supply and demand and it would seem that there are more people available for gov't jobs like teachers and firefighters than ever.
There are no teachers in OC quitting because of pay.
I'd be happy to continue the point if you wish
I am a nice, well meaning person. We just disagree. I said the average increase in teachers’ salaries was below the rate of inflation. That number was presented by the National Education Association. Our salaries are not increasing at an astronomical rate and other industries have seen much sharper increases in a 5 year period than the increases teachers have seen.
Even putting that point aside, your representation of what teachers are paid is unfair. Many people looking at the teaching profession from the outside use the argument that teachers should really consider their salary what they make plus 20% more since there is that much vacation time built into a regular school year. That makes no sense to me. If I decide to be a teacher, I understand that I am taking a salary that is less but that I also get vacation time as a benefit to consider. I cannot, however, consider my salary of $57,000 really a salary of $68,400. Would I pull that money out of thin air? How would I pay my rent with that figure I am not receiving?
Some have said that we should get additional jobs in our time off, and many teachers do work during vacations in order to support their families. These jobs do not pay the additional 20%. Again, if you decide to be a teacher you understand what you are accepting and looking for a summer job will more than likely not give you the additional $11,400. There are not many industries that will hire a teacher just for 2 months and pay them this type of salary. That would mean working your 8 weeks off, at 40 hours a week, earning over $35 an hour. If you know of such a job, tell me and I will let other teachers know because many seek summer employment.
Many male teachers are becoming unable to support a family on a teacher’s salary alone anymore, and I consider that a shame and a reason we are seeing less male teachers enter the teaching profession. On top of that, you might have an unrealistic view of the types of benefit packages teachers are now offered.
As for the age-old argument that teachers work less than an eight hour day, that is so untrue. We are with the children for 6-7 hours a day, depending on the school schedule. That is the time we are in front of the students. Let me take a moment to say that this is the most precious and important part of our day and the part I most enjoy. If I am in front of the children, I had better have spent my time outside of the school day preparing for what I will do with them. I have to have my materials prepared, my lessons planned, schoolwork corrected so I know who needs to review or move on, not to mention the time we spend thinking about the children and what they need or ways to adapt to their changing needs throughout the year. We spend hours, and much of our own income on preparing the day for the children. Go to any school 2-4 hours after the children have left and even on weekends and you will find countless teachers. Plus, ask our families how much work we bring home.
It may sound boastful, but I feel like I am a really good teacher. I have a good heart, great intentions, and I spend time creating meaningful lessons often tailored to 20 different little people’s needs. I will not say that teaching is not a rewarding and emotionally fulfilling career, it is. To say that we should not be paid more is silly. I cannot foresee a time when we will be paid more, districts don’t have the means and our government does not seem to agree with this sentiment, but if it is a question of ‘should,’ we definitely should be paid more.
