Why don't teachers make more money?

Answer 1

A very good (yet frustrating) question.

There's definitely the issue of our society's backward values where a star athlete earns at least 10,000 times more than a teacher. In addition to that, I think it's important to look at the source of funding for teachers' salaries. If we're talking about public schools, then the source is public revenues which cities bring in. A city job can be a very good paying job ... depending on your position. It seems that the positions that are more directly tied into bring the city revenue (City Manager, City Mayor, Economic Development Manager) or scientifically technical skills (engineering, computer science) are the better paying jobs. The blame can also be laid at our feet ... how much taxpayers are willing to pay for public education.

Answer 2

It's unfair that teachers don't make as much money as a professional basketball player, sure, but that's the way it is. State funded education is paid for with tax money, which means there isn't an unlimited source of it. Often legislatures could do a better job of budgeting, and that is sometimes where the problem lies. They could raise taxes, but that could be bad for the general public.

I am a public school teacher in Texas, and I feel that my salary is decent for 10 months of work. I work very hard during the school year and often spend a lot of time working on curriculum or professional development during the summer vacation. I've been getting small raises each year, and I think it's fair.

As long as the salary is OK, I'm not complaining. It could have a good side, too. I don't want people in this profession for the money. Sure, you want the best and the brightest teaching the kids, but you also want the most dedicated. It is very easy for someone to just slack off as a teacher and do nothing. I wouldn't want anyone to go into teaching because of the salary, which is what would happen if teachers were paid what many people think they truly deserve!

Answer 3

Teachers not making enough money is a fallacy.

You could argue that beginning teachers don't make that much money, but then EVERY college grad is also in the same boat. No one starts off making lots of money.

Teachers that have been at it for a long time make hella good money. Do a little research on actual teacher pay and you'll find out that teachers do make a very good wage, much better than the average college grad over time and with better benefits and job security.

Answer 4

Teachers make incredible benefits and have receive tenure. The money isn't bad for civil service, and remember they only work about 200 days a year.

I agree that teachers should make more, but there are so many people that want to be teachers, it is hard to threaten a walkout.

I believe it is somehow built into the mindset of teachers to be unduly compensated, like the starving artist.

I don't know, I am a teacher, and it is a very political job.

Answer 5

Teaching is a profession that was thought of as a women's profession in earlier years and so it wasn't as if it had to be salaried enough to pay for a family - it was thought of as supplemental to a man's income. Today, the need for teachers is at an all time high (meaning that the school budget has to stretch further than ever), and most teacher's salaries are paid with taxes (from citizenry, who rarely want to pay more taxes) making it easy to justify keeping these salaries low - plus they have always found people who would do it for that amount of money.

I think it is tragic that we don't adequately pay (and properly screen) the people who literally hold our future in their hands when they educate our children.

Answer 6

Because the U.S does not value education as much as they say they do. For example, take Canada. Majority of education there is free and teachers are paid 3 times more than teachers in the U.S. A lot of Immigrants travel there to get their MBA's and so and so forth. I spoke with one such lady who was a native of canada. She said she started her college education there but decided to move to America to follow her husband. She said that she paid less than 6000 a year for college in Canada. Now that she is pursuing her MBA here in America she is 40,000 in debt with students loans. She had never been in debt before and never thought it would be because she wanted to further her education. In other countries the federal government is responsible for the funding of education and they invest whole heartedly. Here in America we put the burden on the individual states while the federal government stays out of it. Government officials like to talk the talk during election season about education reform but after the election they "never" walk the walk and come up with a resolution as to why America has the poorest education system world wide. America just doesn't care.

Answer 7

Actually it Depends...

See if you are a public school teacher then the reason why you arent making enough money is because of the state government that you live in and how much money they decide to pitch in to school education. Private schools just depend on how small the school is and how much $$ tuition is and they split that up.

Answer 8

I have absolutely no idea. It's quite unfair, really. Teaching is a difficult job. For me it's the teacher that makes a course good or bad, too. They can really affect things and they have to know so much and be sooooo patient! I think that they deserve a lot more, and a lot more respect.

Answer 9

I know it's a sore spot, but they get good wages for having over 2 months off a year, and x-mas and Easter holidays... Our teachers are doing great, and they make more money then me...

Answer 10

Americans put money into things they value.

Look at what entertainers and athletes get paid, vs. what teachers get paid.

It's a telling statement on American society.