Teacher Pay?

[panther15z30]

Managing a Speedway most likely consists of 50+ hours a week 50 weeks a year. Dealing with everything from advertising, ordering, maintenance, Human resources, payroll, customer issues, and cash flow maintenance. I'd say managing a speedway is significantly more difficult than teaching.

 

You do have solid argument but my take on it is, No way, No how. I am in no way saying that managing a speedway would be easy because it isn't. But of the all the job activities you listed above a teacher does those same things (in somewhat different form) to manage their own classroom not to mention other school responsibilities they have.

[panther15z30]

Whether or not teachers are underpaid I suppose is a matter of opinion. The very good teachers who come each day prepared and challenge kids to learn are grossly underpaid. Those that get into it because they like the hours and want summers off or really just got into it to coach and just go through the motions are probably ovepaid but it's like that in every profession..

 

Your comment with regard to merit pay is dead on correct. Just mentioning a merit pay system for teachers and the teachers unions go on the offensive and their lobbyist apply the pressure on our legislatures. Every year the legislature or govenor throw in some raise for all teachers but they don't provide the funds to pay for the increase. If local districts have to pay for the salaries and the increases then it should be left up to them to decide if an increase in salaries is necessary. They leave it up to the schools to figure out how to pay for it. Until teachers are willing to accept a merit pay system then their pay will remain the same.

 

I will be going into teaching within the next 2 years and I would be all for it. I'm already a substitute teacher, and substitues already have a merit system.. they get called back :lol:

[Clyde]

You sound like the Union.

 

Do you have any answers to the questions posed?

[sweet16]

When you say average 50 hours per week is that for the calendar year or school year?

 

I wish I only worked 50 hours a week at the school during the work week. Teachers put in a lot more than 8-3 plus if you are involved with any extra cirricular activities that tacks on even more hours.

[Hearsay]

We are not answering Gus' original question. He asked why they are not paid more money.

 

Teaching is a government profession. It is funded by tax dollars. The pay is, and always will be, limited by what taxpayers are willing to pay in taxes. Teachers know that going in. In Kentucky, 61% of our tax dollar budget already goes to education. That is an appallingly high percentage of the budget. It may be that the budget in Kentucky is not real big because the state is economically stagnant. So, teachers who feel their pay is too low are suffering, in part, from the economics of this state.

 

Their situation, incidentally, is not any different than that of government doctors, government lawyers, etc., all of whom are paid by the limitations of the tax revenue and budget.

 

I know teachers in select disciplines whom are paid very well. I know others who are not. The manager-of-the-Speedway vs. teacher argument intrigues me. One attribute that seems to be universal among teachers is that they are extremely, almost perversely, defensive and sensitive about their jobs. They refuse, steadfastly, to admit that public education in this country is failing to any extent, or if they do, they refuse to accept any criticism and blame for the fact. They wonder, vocally, why they are not paid commensurate with other professionals and spend a lot of time comparing themselves to other private sector jobs with similar educational backgrounds. I once had a two-hour argument with a local teacher who insisted she should make what I make because she "had as much education as I did." I throw up my hands when I hear these things.

 

We can start paying teachers more when we become more economically sufficient. More tax revenue will come in, and more money can then be allocated for pay. Teachers will never make what private sector professionals or executives make.

[cch5432]

A thread in the general discussion got me a little fired up (again) and I thought this thread belongs here as govt has to fix it...

 

I am a former school teacher...but for the life of me I cannot figure out why we do not pay our school teachers more money. We are not going to attract the best individuals to the profession when they can make more money managing a Speedway.

 

Also, why do we not pay teachers based on merit? We pay them based on time of service. This is absolutely ridiculous. What other profession does this? You can be the best teacher in school yet make the same or less than the worst. Even the military promotes based on merit. The best lawyers make the most $$$, same for Docs, basically any other professional.

 

What say you?

First of all, please don't ask Big Brother's help. That can only lead to dependency.

 

Second of all, I had this same question. Check this thread out.

[AcesFull]

We can start paying teachers more when we become more economically sufficient. More tax revenue will come in, and more money can then be allocated for pay. Teachers will never make what private sector professionals or executives make.

:thumb: Excellent point and one to which I had not given much thought. Being represented by the socialists at the top of the NEA does work against higher teacher salaries. Liberals tend to look for their "fair share" through higher taxesinstead of looking for ways to make the pie bigger.

 

The more successful that our private sector is, the more money that will be available to pay deserving public employees, including teachers.

 

I heard some talk show host a few days ago contrast how the government and private sectors respond to revenue losses. When the number of riders on city bus routes declines, the government raises fares. When an airline loses business to its competitors, it lowers prices to increase volume.

 

(The average federal employee's pay and benefit package is already double that of his or her private counterpart - so some government employees are getting paid more than they could earn in the private sector. In the cases that you cited, I agree that most professionals do better in the private sector.)

[IM4THEHOUNDS]

:thumb: Excellent point and one to which I had not given much thought. Being represented by the socialists at the top of the NEA does work against higher teacher salaries. Liberals tend to look for their "fair share" through higher taxesinstead of looking for ways to make the pie bigger.

 

The more successful that our private sector is, the more money that will be available to pay deserving public employees, including teachers.

 

I heard some talk show host a few days ago contrast how the government and private sectors respond to revenue losses. When the number of riders on city bus routes declines, the government raises fares. When an airline loses business to its competitors, it lowers prices to increase volume.

 

(The average federal employee's pay and benefit package is already double that of his or her private counterpart - so some government employees are getting paid more than they could earn in the private sector. In the cases that you cited, I agree that most professionals do better in the private sector.)

 

Just thought that I would make you aware that I have never paid dues to the NEA or the KEA. I do not agree with their liberal agenda. I belong to AAE and its state affiliate KAPE. The dues are one third of the other organization simply because they do not use them to promote liberal political agendas. They also provide equal or better liability coverage and should the need arise . . . I can choose my own attorney rather than one selected by them. I have tried and tried to get colleagues to consider changing but many are so brainwashed they think that the NEA/KEA is all there is. I don't want one dime of my paycheck promoting the liberal philosophies of the leaders in the other organization. I am very happy with AAE/KAPE.

[AcesFull]

Just thought that I would make you aware that I have never paid dues to the NEA or the KEA. I do not agree with their liberal agenda. I belong to AAE and its state affiliate KAPE. The dues are one third of the other organization simply because they do not use them to promote liberal political agendas. They also provide equal or better liability coverage and should the need arise . . . I can choose my own attorney rather than one selected by them. I have tried and tried to get colleagues to consider changing but many are so brainwashed they think that the NEA/KEA is all there is. I don't want one dime of my paycheck promoting the liberal philosophies of the leaders in the other organization. I am very happy with AAE/KAPE.

I salute you and other teachers who reject the liberal agenda pushed by the NEA and their state affiliates.

 

However, the NEA's liberal policies negatively affect the salaries of all public school teachers and to a lesser extend they affect private school teacher salaries as well because of the number of politicians who dance to the NEA's tune at all levels of government. The damage done to society by teachers who feed the NEA monster with their dues goes far beyond the walls of public schools.

 

I know that most teachers do not support the policies pushed by the NEA and many, like you, do not look at the government as a "fixer" of problems.

[ladiesbballcoach]

Just for the record.

 

I love my job teaching and the benefits that go with it.

 

And think we deserve to be paid accordingly to what we bring to society.

[Hamilton Joe]

Just for the record.

 

I love my job teaching and the benefits that go with it.

 

And think we deserve to be paid accordingly to what we bring to society.

 

:thumb:I think it is great that you love your job and I admire anyone that chooses this profession for their lifes work but you know the pay scale when you get into to it and as I have said previously good teachers are underpaid and bad ones are overpaid just as in any profession so it sort of evens outs and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

[Clyde]

And think we deserve to be paid accordingly to what we bring to society.

 

How do we judge that?

[RockPride]

A thread in the general discussion got me a little fired up (again) and I thought this thread belongs here as govt has to fix it...

 

I am a former school teacher...but for the life of me I cannot figure out why we do not pay our school teachers more money. We are not going to attract the best individuals to the profession when they can make more money managing a Speedway.

 

Also, why do we not pay teachers based on merit? We pay them based on time of service. This is absolutely ridiculous. What other profession does this? You can be the best teacher in school yet make the same or less than the worst. Even the military promotes based on merit. The best lawyers make the most $$$, same for Docs, basically any other professional.

 

What say you?

The short of it.....you get paid great hourly. Work more...

[RockPride]

Also, why do we not pay teachers based on merit? We pay them based on time of service. This is absolutely ridiculous. What other profession does this?

Almost every union, a big reason why I don't like them.

[RockPride]

A teacher works about 8 months a year, I'll even concede another 2-3 weeks. That leaves you 12-13 weeks off. I would get another job during that off time, that would enable you to make more $$$$. I don't want to hear about taking work home, as most of us in the private sector do that as well, and work on the weekends, etc....Teachers all knew what the pay was when they got started in that field, they are paid justly IMO.