Why do Teachers Get Bad Pay, But Athletes don't?

Answer 1

cuz the goverment is stupid.

Answer 2

There are obviously all sorts of economic and sociological questions involved here. You know that people pay to see athletes (and singers and dancers, etc.), and don't pay to see teachers.

On the other hand, maybe this will make you think our priorities aren't completely out of whack. An awful lot of teachers make a good living at that profession. A friend of mine taught junior high for many years, and was making 65K or so when he retired a few years ago. Multiply him (and the others like him in the town) over a bunch of school districts across the country.

OK, so how many baseball players are making really big money? Thirty major league teams times roughly 30 players (disabled list) is 900 people. The minor leaguers aren't getting rich and their earning ability isn't that long. Throw them out, and there aren't that many people making a great living in baseball. Football, basketball, hockey and golf don't add much to the total.

And some top-end teachers do pretty well at universities, etc., especially if they publish books, do important research and so on -- not Barry Bonds well, but not bad. And they have longer careers than athletes (Bonds being an exception).

So maybe the situation isn't as gloomy as your question suggests.

Answer 3

The top teachers get millions for what they do. It's all a matter of pursuing it in the proper venue. Oprah Winfrey, for example, does more teaching than many public school teachers and is one of the world's wealthiest people. Being a teacher does not equal bad pay.
There are more athletes paying for the privilege to play than there are athletes getting paid to play.

Answer 4

Because the demand is higherfor athletes However, most teacher only work 8-9 months out of the year and have tremendous benefits. So they do get paid decent for the time they do work.

Answer 5

There are fewer professional athletes...these jobs are not comparable in any way...one is entertainment...actors, singers etc. have talent we pay for. Teachers are much more abbundant...they are underpaid, but, there is no way to compare the two.

Answer 6

Because people are STUPID enough to pay the outrageous ticket prices to see the many egotistical, spoiled brats who think they're better than anyone else play. One nimrod major league baseball player had the cajones to ask a kid for $50 who had asked for an autograph!

Answer 7

They're not the only ones. Police officers, firefighters, they're also underpaid. Home healthcare officials too. Stupid state governments. That's what it is.