Posted on 05/28/2010 6:59:47 AM PDT by SeafoodGumbo
Yesterday, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had a little dust-up with teacher Rita Wilson. Upset over Christie’s education budget, Wilson complained that she wasn’t paid enough and got sharp rebuke from the governor:
But borough teacher Rita Wilson, a Kearny resident, argued that if she were paid $3 an hour for the 30 children in her class, she’d be earning $83,000, and she makes nothing near that.
“You’re getting more than that if you include the cost of your benefits,” Christie interrupted.
When Wilson, who has a master’s degree, said she was not being compensated for her education and experience, Christie said:
“Well, you know then that you don’t have to do it.” Some in the audience applauded.
Christie said he would not have had to impose cuts to education if the teachers union had agreed to his call for a one-year salary freeze and a 1.5 percent increase in employee benefit contributions.
“Your union said that is the greatest assault on public education in the history of the state,” Christie said. “That’s why the union has no credibility, stupid statements like that.”
According to the Rutherford Board of Education meeting minutes from July 13, 2009, she's a step 16 level 4, and makes $86,389. Here's the relevant screenshot:Surrounded by reporters after she spoke, Wilson said she was shaking from the encounter, and worried she might get in trouble for speaking out.
In an astonishing fall from grace that has taken only months, teachers have gone from respected and beloved members of the community to some of the most reviled. In a blink, they have trashed years of good will.
Once the patient darlings who nurtured our kids, teachers now look like insensitive, out-of-touch, can’t-think-for-themselves union robots who, when forced to face economic realities, clung to an insulting sense of entitlement, heartlessly sacrificed the jobs of colleagues, called the governor naughty names and used students as political pawns.
All while blaming everyone else.
At Saturday’s rally in Trenton, teachers wondered when the Earth started spinning in the other direction.
“It’s like we woke up one morning and the world had changed,” said Linda Mirabelli, a music teacher in Livingston. “We were liked and respected, and now, overnight, people have turned against us.”
How did it happen? That’s easy: One bad decision, one stupid miscalculation: An overwhelming majority of teachers refused to accept a pay freeze. They could have won taxpayers’ eternal gratitude, but instead demanded their negotiated raises and fought against contributing a dime toward budget-breaking health insurance benefits. Teachers could have pitched in, but they dug in.
They thumbed their noses at taxpayers, who have lost their jobs, had their pay cut, gone bankrupt and fallen into foreclosure. As taxpayers made less, teachers demanded more. You do that, you become a villain. Fast. It doesn’t matter how many stars Junior gets on his book report.
Try working in the average private school for $35,000 to $40,000.
National average based on what level of education? I agree, $86,000 is a chunk of change, but what is being described by this poster as between $45-50,000 is more realistic for most school districts. Teachers who have been in their jobs for 20 or more years often earn up to $60 - 65,000. Yes teachers get two months off each year and all bank holidays, but they by no means have a 9-5 job; many teachers have to work on grading and exams off the clock and on weekends - something they are not compensated for.
Also, when speaking of averages - remember the education requirements placed on educators. Most states require that teachers earn a Masters Degree within the first 5 years of employment; the average cost of a Masters Degree is $20,000. If you want to compare averages, compare an average income for people holding Masters Degrees.
A union rep actually went on record in the local paper stating that it wasn't fair that a brand new teacher could not afford to buy a house in our county.
I must point out that the median house price in our county still runs around $250,000! It usually takes both spouses to afford one yet the teachers think they are so special that they deserve to buy one alone! What hubris!!
They want it all without confronting reality. They are just public employees.
I read down the thread waiting for somebody to point this out. Thank you.
However, most districts will pay for part or all of the teachers’ continuing education, including advanced degrees.
Also, all Masters Degrees are not alike. Get a masters in Physics or Math and get a pay bump over an Education Degree.
If she wants more money then head over to a private college where you can soak the students and their parents for insane amounts of tuition.
Or move to NYC schools or Chicago schools where the pay is even higher.
Yeah well, I’d rather be skinned alive than have to get a Masters Degree in Math, so I’ll take 9 months a year and a decent salary to boot. I’m getting a masters science in teaching, then am thinking about a second in eduction leadership (administration) at some point in the future. I went the route for an endorsement in secondary education and chose a masters (with certification) rather than a 5th year (with certification). Teachers with the post-bacc year still have to get a masters, I on the other hand, will have an extra 6 months and be done. I wasn’t aware that school districts aided in the costs of the masters, but on the other hand, chances of getting hired when I have a masters going in are better than someone with only the post-bacc year... shows I’m committed (or should be committed - depending on your view of educators).
Actually, her wage is higher than that when you consider that she gets the summer off.
$86,389 / 9 = $9,598.78 * 12 = $115,185.33
Teachers generally forget this gem when talking about their “low pay.”
In Massachusetts at least, if you do it out week by week, it comes to about eight months. Keep in mind as well, when you consider the school day, typically shorter commutes, defined benefit pension plans, etc. it is not a bad job.
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