Sanders' 'Radical Goal'; At Least $60,000/Year for 'Every Teacher in America'

CNSNews ^ | February 7, 2020 | Susan Jones

[karpov]

"If we believe in the future of this country, if we believe in our children, we have got to believe in our educators," Sen. Bernie Sanders told a CNN-hosted town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday night.

The 2020 Democrat presidential hopeful called for a "revolution in education," including teacher salaries that start at $60,000 a year.

Sanders said he would triple funding for schools in economically disadvantaged areas, "because in America, public schools should provide quality education to all, not just to those who live in wealthy communities and have a strong property tax base.

"Number two, my goal -- it's a radical goal, but this is what I believe -- my goal is to make sure that within a few years, every teacher in America earns at least $60,000 a year."

Sanders called it "quite unbelievable" that in New Hampshire, "there are teachers starting off in certain districts making less than $29,000 a year.

"And I can tell you, having visited South Carolina on many occasions, you got great teachers there who have been in the profession 20 or 30 years. They are leaving the profession because they can't make an income. You have young people going into teaching with student debt of $50,000, $100,000 a year."

Sanders then outlined his vision for American education:

[karpov]

Education is primarily a local responsibility, and it's not for the Federal government to determine how much teachers are paid. Already, teaching in public schools offers a high lifetime income when you consider the number of days worked per year, the lifetime job security and pension, and the easy education major that serves as the qualification.

[I want the USA back]

“Free” college. “Free” healthcare. Hey old fart! I know you plan to take money from productive citizens to fund this. Problem is, you are doing every thing you can to halt job growth.

[Fai Mao]

Here is a list of teacher salaries

I imagine the average is higher than that right now.

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/average-teacher-salary-by-state-how-much-educators-earn-in-the-us-4175464

[Buckeye McFrog]

I would not mind paying a teacher $60K IF they could really do the job.

Too many are put-in-time-till-I-qualify-for-pension union slugs.

[Sacajaweau]

And the average class size?

We had 50 in my classes in the 60s.

[chrisser]

I think this is a great idea.

As long as the shortfall is made up by either cutting the salaries of, or eliminating, the multiple levels of administration above the teachers.

Of course, that will require the Dept of Education to severely slash the regulatory burden.

On top of that, if government is now responsible for setting teacher salaries, then they sure as heck don’t need a union anymore. Disband the NEA completely and forbid unionization in all public education.

[Yo-Yo]

$60,000/year for a 9 1/2 month per year job.

I never knew indoctrination instruction paid so well...

[married21]

Cool. If they go back to wearing professional clothing, assigning essays and teaching, instead of turning in a video.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

I guess it’s OK with me, as long as the teachers don’t work for any level of government. Only private school teachers teaching in private schools.

[treetopsandroofs]

ALL the public school teachers I know are radical leftists, who will vote Rat anyway.

[griswold3]

Remember the time when Teacher’s Unions put the Children First?

Yeah, me neither.

[Maris Crane]

THEY WILL NEVER TAKE THAT BIG A CUT...

[Pete Dovgan]

I detest federal government involvement in just about everything to a point. However, when you socialize part of a free market economy, and not others, eventually it leads to discrimination. Teachers don’t make a fair or living wage because we demanded that everyone be educated, on a Federal scale. While it is locally funded, it’s Federally mandated. Therefore, teachers are cheated out of a being paid a reasonable salary. Further, they all become socialists because they are stuck in a socialized system while the rest of the people are not. What happens is they give their socialism ideas to the kids........and PRESTO, we have Bernie Sanders!!

Before we say agree or disagree with Bernie, let’s think about how Un-socialize education. Honestly, it would be worth the money.

[forgotten man]

Most teachers around here are making a lot more than $70,000 for 8 or 9 months of work.

[gibsonguy]

Teacher unions along with Trial lawyers and PP are the biggest contributors to the rats. Bernie wants them to pick him. Teachers are 80-90% Democrats.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“”If we believe in the future of this country, if we believe in our children, we have got to believe in our educators,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told a CNN-hosted town hall in New Hampshire on Thursday night.”

That’s great! Get rid of the union, have teachers buy their own insurance and provide performance raises based on annual student testing.

[ConservativeWarrior]

How about a $60k minimum for every member of our military?

This virtue signalling stuff is fun!

[cranked]

Most K12 system teachers today could not even pass a PRAXIS if they had to retake.........

[jagusafr]

My daughter is in her 4th year teaching elementary. She’s thinking of quitting because she’s passionate about teaching but she can hardly do so because of all the administrative taskings for Special Ed, federal school lunch money statistics, etc.. She spends at least $400/yr out of pocket to pay for lessons materials the district can’t or won’t pay for. She works 14-16 hours a day between prep, admin and teaching. She makes a decent salary for Texas ($53K/yr). Too many of her fellow teachers are as you describe.

[1Old Pro]

Where I live, $60,000 would be a major pay cut for teachers.