- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 57,295
- Reaction score
- 31,720
- Gender
- Female
- Political Leaning
- Libertarian - Right
I know what you're thinking --- isn't she a teacher?? Yes, I am. I have my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education, a Masters in K-12 Reading Education and a Reading Specialist endorsement. This coming year will be year #12 for me.
I have heard throughout my life that teachers make next-to-nothing and deserve a raise. This is usually a blanket statement whereas it's implied that all teachers make less than they should and all deserve a raise. I'm here to tell you --- they don't all make less than they should and they don't all deserve a raise.
Here me out.
The Opinion -- Teachers make less than they should and they deserve a raise.
The most glaring part of this opinion is that it lumps all teachers together. Not all teachers are Mrs. Frizzle (10 points if you get that reference). In my experience, MOST teachers aren't Mrs. Frizzle. Just like in any career, there are people who are super awesome at their job, pretty good, just okay and awful. Just because their job is "teacher" doesn't mean they are good at it. Why should a Mrs. Frizzle be put in the same category as a Mrs. Gorf (10 more points...)? Doesn't Mrs. Frizzle deserve a higher paycheck than Mrs. Gorf? Why should they be considered "equals" simply because they have both been teaching 20 years?
No, not all teachers work their asses off during the summer to get ready for the new year. No, not all teachers spend countless extra hours at school without getting paid. No, not all teachers spend their own money on things for their classroom. Those are the Mrs. Frizzles of the education world --- and it's not the norm. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who refuse to come in to school unless they're paid for it. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who do absolutely nothing during the summer pertaining to their students or education. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who slide in the door at the exact time they're supposed to be there and are out the door the second we're allowed to leave. Why should a raise be given to teachers who do the bare minimum? How can you even compare the bare minimum teacher with the one who goes above and beyond?
Now, salaries...I can only speak for my district, but I know of teachers in other districts that have similar stories.
I work in a low-income district. Most families make somewhere in the $20K to $30K range. The average salary in my district is $45,000. We have almost-retired teachers making $70K and up. Now, I don't know about other districts, but that's pretty darn good for that area.
My brother (who makes about $30K) was bragging the other day that he probably makes more money than I do. I looked at him like he was nuts. He has absolutely no clue that I make almost twice what he makes. It's just been ingrained in his head that teachers are poor.
So, no. Not all teachers make less than they should. Most teachers aren't poor. And not all teachers deserve a raise.
I have heard throughout my life that teachers make next-to-nothing and deserve a raise. This is usually a blanket statement whereas it's implied that all teachers make less than they should and all deserve a raise. I'm here to tell you --- they don't all make less than they should and they don't all deserve a raise.
Here me out.
The Opinion -- Teachers make less than they should and they deserve a raise.
The most glaring part of this opinion is that it lumps all teachers together. Not all teachers are Mrs. Frizzle (10 points if you get that reference). In my experience, MOST teachers aren't Mrs. Frizzle. Just like in any career, there are people who are super awesome at their job, pretty good, just okay and awful. Just because their job is "teacher" doesn't mean they are good at it. Why should a Mrs. Frizzle be put in the same category as a Mrs. Gorf (10 more points...)? Doesn't Mrs. Frizzle deserve a higher paycheck than Mrs. Gorf? Why should they be considered "equals" simply because they have both been teaching 20 years?
No, not all teachers work their asses off during the summer to get ready for the new year. No, not all teachers spend countless extra hours at school without getting paid. No, not all teachers spend their own money on things for their classroom. Those are the Mrs. Frizzles of the education world --- and it's not the norm. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who refuse to come in to school unless they're paid for it. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who do absolutely nothing during the summer pertaining to their students or education. I can't tell you how many teachers I know who slide in the door at the exact time they're supposed to be there and are out the door the second we're allowed to leave. Why should a raise be given to teachers who do the bare minimum? How can you even compare the bare minimum teacher with the one who goes above and beyond?
Now, salaries...I can only speak for my district, but I know of teachers in other districts that have similar stories.
I work in a low-income district. Most families make somewhere in the $20K to $30K range. The average salary in my district is $45,000. We have almost-retired teachers making $70K and up. Now, I don't know about other districts, but that's pretty darn good for that area.
My brother (who makes about $30K) was bragging the other day that he probably makes more money than I do. I looked at him like he was nuts. He has absolutely no clue that I make almost twice what he makes. It's just been ingrained in his head that teachers are poor.
So, no. Not all teachers make less than they should. Most teachers aren't poor. And not all teachers deserve a raise.