Do you think teachers are overpaid, underpaid, paid a fair amount?

Question

I'm am asking this question to conduct a poll. I will be using this information to complete a school report. Please answer this question with either ther words: overpaid, underpaid, or paid fairly. Thank you =D

Answer 1

overpaid. These kids are not equipped to hold real jobs when they get out of school.

Answer 2

Well, at least they are paid a lot better than when I was teaching. I taught in Texas from 1972 - 1980. My annual pay was $6,666 for that first 10-month contract year and ended at $12,900 the last year. That district paid about $300 more than the state base pay amount.

New teachers in Texas now start at almost $30,000 per year. But, hopefully, no one ever was dumb enough to go into teaching for the money. The problems that lead to career changes are 1) the lack of back-up on discipline situations (You should hear some of the horror stories. I, myself, taught a future murderer & a future rapist. My sister, who still teaches early elementary, has had several who could not be allowed in the restroom unsupervised due to fondling other children.), 2) the amazing pile of government-required paperwork (lesson plans and grading are no longer enough) and, often, overcrowding (I averaged 25-35 students in an art class).

Real teachers often get discouraged and give up. Then we get stuck with some who are lazy and/or almost illiterate themselves and are just drawing a paycheck for not even babysitting very well. (Early one school year I received a mass-production note to the parents from my child's English teacher in which the grammar was atrocious. I requested a transfer!)

Sadly, almost any teacher in junior high or up should get combat pay: it's hazardous out there. For the real, caring, dedicated teachers, they are not paid enough. They often buy supplies out of their own money for things the school district can't or won't afford - and for individual children whose parents either can't afford school supplies or, more often, don't bother because they know SOMEONE will provide them. Also, by the time they spend all that time at home planning, grading, worrying, creating items for "centers", etc., they are really making less than minimum wage. Maybe that's the answer: pay teachers minimum wage - but pay them the $5.15 per child taught, per hour of actual work time put in - at the school, at home & supervising at extracurricular activities!

P.S. I'm not serious. I'm pretty sure every state would quickly go broke, even if every teacher were absolutely honest and well monitored so that the hours reported were totally accurate. But we could certainly try to improve working conditions and express our appreciation and (most importantly) teach our children to be respectful. To most teachers, that would feel like a million dollar raise!

Answer 3

underpaid-
but thats the good teachers.
"those who can, Do
those who can't, teach"
<_< isn't always true. im a teacher.... i teach english, and i personally htink im underpaid... but it's not all about the money, if it was i wouldnt be teaching.

Answer 4

underpaid (at least the good ones)

Answer 5

Underpaid,I couldnt handle the rugrats!!!!!!

Answer 6

underpaid