Pay Check Shock

[GinnyG]

The “going rate” for subs here is $50.00 a day. I think it’s crimiinal!

[GinnyG]

@Mike

Teachers aren’t underpaid around me. I think they start at $30K. Then they go back for a Masters and get more. And more again for a PHD.
Not really that bad for a 9 month job that is nearly impossible to lose after you’ve had it for 2 years.

We all knew we were being conned when my niece claimed she couldn’t find a job that paid anything around here and went to the south.

But I bet subs don’t make much around here either. They’re not expected to be much more than baby sitters. (Which you couldn’t pay me enough to be.)
The pay is probably why so many subs only look at it as a baby sitting job.

As for how essential teachers are, that depends. The one that taught me that since cold was heavier than warm, ice formed on the bottom of lakes and floated to the top was by no means essential. The one that flunked a friend for doing a report on peccaries because peccaries don’t exist was also not essential. The one who turned me off of math by making his class heavily slanted towards giving jocks extra credit and required the ones like me to do extra work for minimum credit should’ve been taken outside of town and shot.

:shock: you think 30K a year is FAIR? I’m not going to get into a debate over good teachers vs bad, you will find good and bad in any profession. A dedicated teacher is worth far more than 30K a year, the incremental increase for advanced degrees is minimal.

My son has a duel Masters’ (education and physics), has taught Physics and Chemistry for almost 10 years and makes less than 50K a year teaching in one of the wealthiest school districts in the country . 9 months is really 10+ months since teachers generally go back to school at least two weeks before the students and work a week after classes end. He may have 6-8 weeks off in the summer but us usually taking classes during that time to keep current in his field or teaches summer school for an amazingly low amount of money. He arrives at school at 7 am and does not leave til 5PM, he is available to his students and their parents every evening and weekends. He puts in countless Sat mornings tutoring (for free) students that are struggling. He volumteers his time (also for no increase in pay) for many after school activities and must attend all evening programs at the school .

I am sorry that you have had bad experience with teachers but perhaps if teachers were compensated for their true worth and talents it would attract more qualified individuals into the field.

[scout52]

@Mike

Teachers are paid a salary. That salary is equal to what other blue collar (and many white collar) people make in a whole year.
Teachers around here that are going back for workships and college classes are doing it to increase their pay, not keep their certification.

Teachers have white collar jobs. THEY ARE COLLEGE EDUCATED. Teachers to not get ANY respect. Just like lawyers and doctors need continuing education, so do teachers. And after taking teaching people’s kids (who many do not get the support of the school, community OR PARENTS themselves), they deserve and NEED the 6 week break or they will get burned out.

Teachers start out with the SAME loan debt as all other college graduates so the pay should start at the LEAST 30K. They are teaching the future leaders of America. I truly think teachers are sorely underpaid, schools are underfunded, programs are underfunded.

Every profession has terrible people in it. Every profession has awesome people in it. Don’t paint the whole profession with a broad brush.

Nathalie I hope you find a position in a school that you love

[auburnchick]

Awww…thank you so much.

I hear 'ya about the student loans. I’ve got $16,000 to pay back, starting this month. I have no idea how I’m going to pay it back while I’m looking for a job.

Oh well…

Hopefully one day soon…

[lelvsdgs]

@Mike

$16/hr is pretty good pay to start out with no experience.
I think if you looked at what people with 4 year degrees are getting fresh out of college you would find that $30K/yr is doing pretty good.

I don’t know where you live but starting salary for teachers here is well below 30K. That figure is with 8-10 years experience. Teachers are grossly underpaid by any standard. And most of them work 10-12 hours a day and in most professions, that’s overtime and there’s some kind of compensation for that. Not for teachers.

As far as having to spend their own money in the classroom, it’s ludicrous to just say make a better budget and you won’t have to spend your own money. You obviously don’t have a clue about how schools are funded.
It’s sad that you obviously didn’t have a good experience with teachers and I’m sorry but most teachers word damn hard and do their best. (and no, I’m not a teacher)

[Mike]

@GinnyG

The “going rate” for subs here is $50.00 a day. I think it’s crimiinal!

I agree, they shouldn’t even get a daycare worker for that much.

you think 30K a year is FAIR? I’m not going to get into a debate over good teachers vs bad, you will find good and bad in any profession. A dedicated teacher is worth far more than 30K a year, the incremental increase for advanced degrees is minimal.

We’re talking STARTING pay, no experience, fresh out of college.
This in a time when many people graduating with 4 and 6 years degrees are lucky to find a job let alone one in their field.

Going back to school to increase your pay may be rationalized as part of the job but the fact is that it is not a job requirement. His dedication shown in taking those classes is rewarded with higher pay.

@scout52

Don’t paint the whole profession with a broad brush.

I did not paint any profession with any brush. I am talking about pay rates.
$30K/yr starting is a very livable wage for most places in the country.

@lelvsdgs

As far as having to spend their own money in the classroom, it’s ludicrous to just say make a better budget and you won’t have to spend your own money.

That is not what I said at all.
I really wish people would read what is written instead of trying to put their own spin on it so they can complain about what they imagined was said.

When you get a budget of $50 and you manage to do the job with $40, the way our bureaucrats work is you get your budget cut to $40. If you spend the $50 wastefully so you can’t do the job correctly you get your budget increased.
Those who waste are rewarded, those who save are punished.

Here’s what a medical interns get starting pay. $32K/yr.
Residents work 100hr weeks with 36hr shifts and they work the whole year.
But teachers are who’s underpaid.

I’m done.
You all win. Everyone in the world should make $300,000,000,000 a year. Then we can all pay $2000 for a loaf of bread.