Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson recently stated that the U.S. should pay teachers a minimum of $40,000 a year. How do you feel about this, and do you feel it is worth our tax dollars?
2007-10-29 21:16:16 · 5 answers · asked by Expat 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Teachers are ALWAYS underpaid. And yet our society demands "Get An Education!", and we're constantly bombarded by people saying things such as "A mind is a terrible thing to waste", or "No child should be left behind". . . Well, if an education is SO D-MNED important, then why are we NOT paying our educators better?!?!
2007-10-29 21:25:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Teachers should be well paid, however what is not taken into consideration is that they probably have the best "part time "
job in the world.
Consider the average person making $40K a year has to work about 50 weeks to get it.
In private or public schools,a teacher works about 36 weeks for the same $40K
They also get liberal holiday pay, "snow" days, liberal pensions , health & retirement benefits esp if they have a union contract.
Tenure is also something to consider , though most are dedicated,once tenure is gained, some just coast until retirement & since there is a demand for teachers are allowed to do so without being measured for productivity as are some "common folks.
Persently, the town I live in , is fighting a runaway schoolboard
that has really hurt the taxpayers by making wild benefit , retirement & other sweetheart deals .
Not taking a slap at teachers in general , but around here $40K is a joke.
If you don't ask, they won' tell.
Best to see what the public record has to say about their "package " before you decide if it is worh extra tax $$s.
Best regards
2007-10-30 04:28:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
simple economics... you want better people, you have to be competitive in the job market...
and when most people are looking at "what they want to do in their lives"... if money is important to them at all, they won't go into teaching...
I don't know about a higher "minimum".... but I think raising the top level that some higher qualified candidates can make/start out at would do wonders...
35K isn't bad for someone who's lower level...
2007-10-29 22:52:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well let see.. the average teacher makes around $35k a year, for working only 9 months a year.. Full benefits, and all holiday's off.. I work 12 months a year, very little benefits, no holidays off, and I only make $24k a year..
I personally think for what they do and how much they work, they are making a very nice income.. I wish I could make that much money and have the summers off every year...
2007-10-29 21:24:46 · answer #4 · answered by LokoLobo 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think that they should get paid alot more than that. And yes its worth every penny you put into it.
2007-10-29 21:20:13 · answer #5 · answered by Groucho 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋