Just be careful when using the “average”. The union pay schedule is tremendously skewed against newer teachers. These n00bs are churned routinely to maintain the image of modest pay. They get crap for raises in the first six to seven years, if they last. Once you have “paid your dues” with about 8 to 9 years, the pay table increases rise dramtically. It is unlike anything I have ever seen in the private sector. So a n00b at $26,000 and senior at $86,000 average to the mythical $56,000. I saw this first hand as a school board member during contract negotiations.
There are a few other tricks the unions use to cry poverty and trick the public, but no time for an expalnation atm.
The noobies can be hired cheap, with immense savings for the senior teachers who get canned for demonstrating instead of reporting to work.
This can be a WIN WIN WIN (for the long term unemployed/underemployed recent graduates, the taxpayers, and the kiddies).