Teaching is an undervalued profession. The love-hate relationship Americans have with their teachers is incredible, as you can see in the bile dripping from some of the above postings from ‘the real world’ contrasted against some of the teacher films coming out of Hollywood.

The expectation is that teachers will be professional and accountable, that they will be carers, guides etc.

The perception that teachers have 3 months off and only work 9 – 3 is always going to work against them, and it is a perception reinforced by people who have an interest in keeping teachers underpaid.

No-one seems willing to talk about the real hours that teachers work – in school, in preparation, or grading ‘in the comfort of their homes’ (it’s still work, isn’t it? And sometimes it goes on through the night).

People who have such hard and inflexible ideas should spend some time in the classroom, volunteer maybe, and see. Take an interest in your kids’ education, maybe?

(Sad that the two most vitriolic comments so far have the word ‘mom’ in their ID name)

Or is that the teacher’s job? If it is, you’d make sure they’re looked after. Can’t have it both ways.

Here in Australia, the starting salary is about $AU 40,000. Teachers work from 8.00 – 4.00, and have about 9 weeks holiday a year. The reality is that many teachers are offering holiday classes to their kids (voluntarily) and taking on some professional learning.

They are still underpayed, but things are getting better. However, it sounds like someone really needs to show some courage over there and look at why American kids are getting left behind on every educational scale. Here’s one reason: you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

There are a number of reason for that.

1. Teacher demand and supply follow the laws of supply and demand, There are enough teachers willing to take the starting salary so that all of the positions are filled.

2.It could be that there are very valuable and expensive fringe benefits such as pension, sick leave, and medical insurance.

3. Your community may e very nice to work in so teachers accept less money.

4. The teacher union in your district may be weak.

5. Neighboring communities may also have very low salaries.

6. Many of the teachers may no be fully certified and therefore cannot get better paying jobs elsewhere.

Look back into history to discover your answer. The school teacher was an unmarried women with no responsibility, or formal training. Later the teacher was a women that that had a husband to “take care” of her so little money was needed. Only when men arrived did the money begin to improve. Because we are not paid by the hour and on;y work “part time” the pay is low. But it is slowly beginning to improve. Hang in there. I have been hung out to dry so I am toast but you will get a more decent wag.

I believe that teachers sholud get alot better than they do.Our

children are our future and without a good education the world

be in bad shape.Teachers are what made this world what is is today,be it good or bad.Teachers help shape the world and our children.Anyone with kids do not want them to grow up without a means of supporting themselves.Thats were a good teacher and a good education comes into play.Parents can only teach so much.The rest is up to our teachers.

Teachers are not underpaid. They work only 9 out of 12 months in a year and have great benefits. Compare that to a professional in the private sector who will likely never have anywhere near 3 months of vacation in a year, no matter how long he/she has worked there. Many in the private sector also have to travel a great deal for their business, taking them away from their families for days at a time or more. Many teachers complain how they have to spend time at night grading papers, but at least they can do it in the comfort of their home. Those in the private sector are more than likely stuck working their overtime in their office.

There’s no room for complaining where teacher pay is concerned. Don’t like it? Leave the profession and see what working in the “real world” is like.

well your not actually working a full year… 28000.00 devided by 9 mth

9 mths x 4 weeks= 36 weeks

36 weeks x 40 hr (i know they put in more then this but just for average sake)= 1440 hours per year

28,000.00 / 1440 hours = 19.44 per hour

Thats pretty good plus you have nice benefits. And nich school Lunches!!!!!

The same reason that no one wants to spend tax money to rebuild roads and bridges. No one really cares. It’s like one of those upkeep things that seems boring. Who cares about what teachers get paid? They are here to serve peoples’ children. I’m sorry but that’s how people see it they don’t care.

Well, anyone who would want to be a teacher would not want to do it for the money. So they can simply assume they will work for less.

It’s a trade off for the long holidays and short hours. At least that’s how I justify it to myself.

I don’t think they are underpaid