Do you think teachers get paid enough?

Question

What do you think? especially if you're not a teacher yourself

Answer 1

I'm not a teacher but my sister and brother both are, and I have two teenage kids in public school.
I don't think teachers get paid nearly enough. There is so much paperwork associated with it, especially with No Child Left Behind and all the IEPs and 504 plans kids. 1 in 166 kids are being diagnosed with autism for crying out loud! That's a tough job, teaching special ed, and with all the one parent families out there, the teacher often has to step in to a parental role as well. My husband disagrees with me and thinks the teachers have it easy, as many posters feel they work 8-3 and have the summers off. Many teachers do tutoring or work in shops or paint houses in the summer to make ends meet. Here in Massachusetts teachers make about 50-60K after 15 years on the job. You need a lot more than that to live here! That's why there's a shortage of male teachers.

Answer 2

If you're looking to be a science teacher in a place where they're needed, you could probably be hired with a provisional license. That would mean you have a certain amount of time to finish coursework to be certified. However, if you are working in a place that really needs you, there's a decent chance they'll pay for it or at least help with the cost. I get paid reasonably well as far as teachers are concerned. I do not have any student loans to pay off, but I do have a bunch of other payments which I have no trouble paying each month. I would say education has a pretty low ceiling on how much you eventually get paid. It doesn't go up a whole lot with years of experience. It's a little bit each year, plus cost of living increase. Last year was my 2nd year of teaching and I was making about $34,000. A colleague of mine was finishing her 40th year of teaching and making something in the mid-fifties I think. So for the difference in years teaching, she really didn't make a whole lot more than me. The only real way to make pretty good money in education is to get a masters in administration or something like that which will move you up the ladder, so to speak. However, I don't think I would consider administration worth it just for the money. It seems like a much more difficult and unpleasant job than teaching. Even though the pay isn't great if you are thinking of becoming a science teacher I would highly recommend it. There is a lack of good science teachers out there, and it's really important that kids learn to love science. It will never happen, though, without a decent teacher to get them interested in it. Good luck with your decision. Hope any of this helped.

Answer 3

I am not a teacher, but I hear the constant whining about teachers being underpaid. While I realize that varies from place to place, I believe that teachers are paid fairly and generally have the best benefits in the country. In Wisconsin, most teachers retire at age 55 because they have one of the best pensions there is. In addition, they contribute very little to health care costs. I won't make much of a comment on the hours worked, because most teachers complain that they work at home at night. (as if other working people don't do that same)

All in all, I think teachers are paid more than they would be on the open market because administrators and school boards are incompetent and unable to find ways to delivery quality education in an efficient manner.

Answer 4

Lets consider the input versus production aspect, or return on investment. In my community the drop out rate in high school is just below 50%. So on that aspect, I would have to say they are over paid. Figure out an hour wage (on the clock). How many hours a year do they spend in front of the class? Now I know you are going to say that they do a lot outside of the class and in training and meetings as well. Guess what? So do I. I average better then 100 hours a week working paper work, presentations, speeches and so forth, but I am paid for the 60 hours a week I spend in front of clients. So hourly, again, very well paid.

Answer 5

I think teachers are paid exactly what they are worth. Better teachers find better paying jobs and low end teachers end up in lower paying jobs.

Since these people knew the pay scale and still went to school to be teachers then they must be willing to accept the pay for that position. If they wanted to make more money then they should have went to school for Law or Business Admin.

My brother is a teacher that teaches about 9 1/2 months per year, gets paid 12 months per year and spends his summers fishing in Alaska. Last year he netted (no pun intended!) around $125K. Not bad for someone who gets to spend the cold months working inside!

Answer 6

Some do, but a lot don’t. That’s one of the reasons post-secondary instructors who have the skills and background often quit and work in the real world. Those who can’t make it on the outside stay in education, teaching the same things they were taught 30 years ago. Of course since they have seniority, they end up running the schools. The schools, both secondary and post-secondary have to pay the market price for knowledgeable and capable instructors.

Answer 7

I think their pay is about right. They have to work hard, and put up with a lot, but there are benefits too. I`m not a teacher, but I know some, and one of them said to me "you`re either made for it, and it comes natural to you, or get out of it". Good advice?

Answer 8

Public school teachers get paid well but parochial school teachers do not.

Answer 9

Definitely, great money, great benefits, great hours, and lots of time off.

Answer 10

More than enough for the most part!