Should teachers' salaries be supplemented by the federal government?

Question

Since teachers play such an important role in our society, yet in many areas they are underpaid (21K-40K avg teachers' salary), should their salaries be supplemented by the federal government for higher pay (in the range of 50K+)?

I'm not a teacher, but I say yes, along with raising the wages of our military, police and fire/rescue personnel.

For those who say teachers are fairly paid, you're sadly mistaken. One of the biggest problems going on in local school districts is being able to keep qualified teachers from leaving for the private sector. Most people, especially those starting out, cannot live on 21K -30K per year. And the suggestion that was made that pro athletes make too much has some relevance since federal, state and local governments are willing to subsidize big-time stadium projects with tax breaks and tax payer dollars which is nothing but corporate welfare. The money that is supposed to be generated back into the community is nothing more than minimum wage concession jobs most of the time.

Answer 1

I've thought about some way the government could help supplement teachers. One thing that I've considered is being exempt from income tax to help improve pay. The main problem I foresee is other public servant professions would want/deserve the same - law enforcement, firefighters etc. Where would we draw the line? I cannot and will not say my job is more or less important than a police officer's or a firefighter's.

I'm not sure most people know the amount of education is required to become a teacher: full 4- year B.A. plus graduate school (credential). The great majority of other professions with the same amount of education make significantly more money than the average teacher. Out here in California where I am, $55,000 year is not much when you consider the average house cost almost $700,000 and a gallon of gas is $3.30. I've known many teachers that have gone to the private sector not because they hated teaching (in fact they loved it) but just could no longer afford to be a teacher. It's sad our society does not value education like other developed nations of the world. You get what you pay for.

Note to Lonestar: "And teachers are not that underpaid. They don't work a full year, and still make pretty good money. "

Please don't be naive as to think teachers are part time workers. Think of teachers as working as much, if not more, than an average full time worker. The main difference is that the work year is compressed into nine months. For instance, I work 60 hours a week for about 40 weeks a year (I'm not including summer days I work in my classroom on my own or work I take home at night). 60 hours x 40 weeks a year = 2400 hours/year. If the average worker works a 40 hour week for 50 weeks a year then that worker works 2000 hours a year. In reality, I work 10 MORE 40 hour work weeks than a regular full time worker!

Answer 2

Yes definately! I've always wanted to become a teacher, but the starting salary is too low so I opted for engineering. The gov't can't expect people to work for a salary that can probably be attained without a degree at all (I know plenty of hs graduates making 25-30k). I really think that teachers should at least start out in the 40s. It is a noble profession ,and in truth, it IS just as important as engineering, medicine, law, and business. Maybe if they did raise salaries, more people would flock to the profession. BTW, the only teachers with a BA/BS who start out in the 40s live in states where the cost of living is extremely high (ie California). I know for a fact that most entry level teachers in the south start out at 28-30k. And those salary increases are slow!

Answer 3

As a teacher, I know for a fact that we are under paid. We should be paid more because if their were no teachers, this world would lack education. Teachers are the people that shape the minds of the young and help produce them into civilized adults.

Teachers these days are doing the job of the slack off parents that send their children to school, as if it was a daycare for 7 hours. We teach the students manners, personal hygiene, and etc. Teachers have more on their plate than just shaping the mind of individuals as if that isn't enough. We dedicate our time and energy into making sure children of the world become successful. We take time away from our own family coming up with plans on how to better our students life the following day.

Doctors --- Needed Teachers
Athletes -- Needed Teachers
Politicians ---Needed Teachers
You --- Needed Teachers
I --- Needed Teachers

And if you did not have a good teacher in your life, chances are you would not be crap either. So appreciate the people that go to school to help others. The community and the state we work in need to pay us for influencing their children.

A mind is indeed a terrible thing to waste.

Answer 4

No! because this gives the government further control and this is the main reason schools fail. They press for total fairness, and whoever told you life is fair should apply for work at disney. THey need to be separated from government and bid out on result basis. then the teachers can get paid according to their job market value and not dictated by unions or adminisration government. They should also be able to expell distruptive no-wanna -learns and work more with localized community and parents.

Answer 5

I'm not sure what stats you're looking up, but the average teacher's salary in the US 3 years ago was $45K, with California teachers averaging over $55K a year.

By 2004, the average was nearly $47K per year.

Answer 6

No, teacher salaries are purely a state issue. We are a country of 50 states with 50 flavors.

Answer 7

Education is a local responsibility. Everytime the Federal government gets involved in something that does not need national uniformity, it screws it up and takes away choices.

And teachers are not that underpaid. They don't work a full year, and still make pretty good money. I am in criminal justice, and my teacher wife makes 10K a year more than I do, and we both have advanced degrees.

Answer 8

No, they should be supplemented by the outrageous pro athletes' salaries and the sports industry in general.

Answer 9

Yes we deserve better salaries, we are forming the future of our Country

Answer 10

HE|| NO.
with that kind of thinking, Information Technology makes this country run. no financial transactions would be possible unless everyone reverted back to the old ways. so let the govt supplement my salary too?
no freaking chance. we need LESS govt not more..