[RobbyS]

The most recent data available indicate that teachers average 7.3 working hours per day, and that they work 180 days per year, adding up to 1,314 hours per year. Americans in normal 9-to-5 professions who take two weeks of vacation and another ten paid holidays per year put in 1,928 working hours. Doing the math, this means the average teacher gets paid a base salary equivalent to a fulltime salary of $65,440.

This kind of argument is silly. Kind of hard to spend hypothetical dollars. Furthermore, it is an appeal to class envy. A better rebuttal to the false notion that teachers are "poor", is the fact that most teachers belong to two income families. My guess is that the average teacher family earns about $65.440 in spendable money. The high-end earners in that category more than double that amount. Teacher salaries are designed to attract those who are looking for a second income. But of course they are quite sufficient for a single person. The only thing is, that the better and brighter single people can usually find a full-time job that pays better, and one does get what one pays for.

[CottonBall]

The only thing is, that the better and brighter single people can usually find a full-time job that pays better, and one does get what one pays for.

That's the bottom line. Teachers complain they don't make enough and the rest of the world sees them getting a lot of time off. If they want more money, find another job! (And most probably, a degree that will enable them to do something besides teach.)