Why is it that teachers have one of the most important jobs in our society but are paid so little?

Question

"They work about 7 a day and on average 185 days a year"

No, that's how much time they spend WITH THE CHILDREN. They are there several more hours than that doing planning, preparation, parent-teacher confrences, etc.

Answer 1

I don't know anyone that got into teaching for the money, but teachers are not alone in terms of the important function they perform with regard to their pay.

I think the reason teachers are not valued more in American society is the product of our work is largely intangible and the market economy uses $$$ as the equalizer. The value of any intangible is subjective and as such, it is difficult to assess and get a general consensus.

The dollar or the bottom line works fine in manufacturing and commerce. For example, in a shoe factory, the managers can readily balance the accounts for costs of materials, facilities, equipment, labor, sales, marketing, determine a value for the shoes to set a sales price. Then after selling the shoes, offset the costs against revenues to readily calculate profit.

But it doesn't quite fit education. When the same accounting methods are applied to education, the critical difference is the value of the education received. Now that education has become big business, there is a crunch to be accountable for the funds expended (especially in public education). So, they begin to count, how many students graduated, got certificates, etc. To avoid trouble with the new accounting, some teachers give "easy" grades to avoid bad evaluations.

And this problem is not confined to teachers. Our reliance on automated digital data processing is another area where some of the most important workers (those who input the data) are paid very little...but we all know what happens when bad data go through the system...and then look at the enormous expenditures it takes to straighten out the errors.

Judith has a point...parents are often the first teachers in our lives and they are not paid a salary at all....so in contrast to teachers (who are paid little), parents, monetarily, are really on the short end of the stick. Though some, in old age, luck out and have really great children to help through the golden years---so I guess they get a good return on their investment. But then there are many who don't....so little or no payment for them.

Answer 2

teachers are not under paid when you consider the hours worked per year and the holidays and summers (yes they get shorter all the time) maybe it's just the economy that's bad..actually i am a RN . i was in elem ed for 2 yrs before changing my major. guess what ??really thinking bout going back to school to be a teacher now. there are lots of teachers, Rn's, nurse practitioners and a MD in my family. RNs don't make the big bucks like you see the ads in the paper saying. if you think so call the number and ask just what it's all about.."if it's too good to be true it probably is".several years ago all the area hospitals did an across the board pay cut ..... yearly raises were a joke...try 20 cents an hour pay raise.....big whoopee...and you maxed out at 20 years...no more pay raises........ i loved being a RN, it was a job i said "wow! i can't believe they're paying me to do this! it was my passion.....i was blessed to have experienced something so fulfilling.......... SO, good teachers that care about teaching and love it with a passion are great and just what we need. but the old song and dance bout the LOW PAY........did you not know what teachers made before you majored in education.....they haven't gotten a pay cut that i know of!!!????get off the soap box and stay off or find another type work, please.....

Answer 3

I think that depends on your position and where you work. For example, I know a person who has parents who are both teachers, and she lives in the lap of luxury. If you look at David Brewer, the LAUSD superintendent, he makes more money than the mayor of Los Angeles. Other districts probably pay their teachers less. There might also be a problem with the system. In the LA Unified School District, there was a problem with a machine that paid certain teachers way less and other teachers way more. Teachers from private schools get more money because the students pay a tuition. Public schools focus more on the students than the teachers. In the end, I think the importance of teachers will be realized and they will eventually be paid more.

Answer 4

Mothers have THE most important job in the world and they aren't paid at all, at least monetarily. Teachers have chosen the work they do and, yes, they should be paid more. Now is the time to start writing to your local board of education or state education departments. Don't just wonder -- act.

Answer 5

Actually they are paid quite well. Take into concideration of the hours they work about 7 a day and on average 185 days a year. The average salary is 35K to start. That equates to about $27 per hour

Answer 6

As a teacher, i'll gladly say that i'm pretty well paid. It all depends on the subject you teach. If its a subject on demand, you'll be aptly paid.

Answer 7

Aargh... don't try to tell me that teachers work seven hour days.

I put in nine hours each day minimum, with an occasional 16-hour day thrown in.

Answer 8

becuase one day poetry will only be for teachers becuase they are like our other group of parents

Answer 9

Priorities the world has screwed up ones!!!

Answer 10

They 're too many. Difficult to address their problems.