So, $32K for 185 days? Based on an 8 hour work day that comes out to $21.62 per hour. Throw in the benefits and these "teachers" aren't going to starve.
First of all, those “teachers” are the ones teaching most kids. Some do it well, some do not. That is also my experience with most union employees. Unions do not reward good work, which is why they foster so little of it.
I have little pity for anyone who claims to be underpaid or overpaid. Carey gets paid a lot because a lot of people freely give her money to hear her ‘singing’. I loathe her singing, but no one forces others to listen to her, buy her records, etc.
But neither do I believe teachers are overpaid. If they were, more would flock to those jobs. There aren’t many people willing to deal with 13 year olds kids for 8 hours a day. Those that do should be paid, but they also need to understand that their quality of life includes less money for more free time...more stress, perhaps, but less manual labor or education required.
I've known a number of teachers. Even dated one once... Not a one of them worked an "8 hour work day." Depending on the classes taught, they usually spent their lunch hour working while eating, were at the school an hour before classes started (7:30am), were usually there for at least an hour after class (4:00pm), and would often spend 4 to 6 hours a night working, either grading papers or planning classes.
I've also worked as an instructor (I never referred to myself as a "teacher." I taught adults how to design and run computer networks), and it required a tremendous amount of after hours work.
Mark
What 8 hr. day? Where I live, school starts at 8:45 and ends a 3:15.