[hsmomx3]

Cantoni is the only one in the Phoenix area who has the guts to write about this. The educrats probably have smoke oozing out of their ears this morning.

[katiebelle]

If you can read this and spit out complete sentences flaming those who taught you to read, thank a teacher! Until you have walked in my shoes don't pretend to be the expert. The school day starts well before the first child ever walks into that room and lasts long after every child leaves. I started out making $510 every 2 weeks. That was with my Masters degree that I paid for and worked for after my day at work which was from 7-5.(I was so selfish I stayed late with my own child in day care to get everything just right for your child the next day) You do the math. And for those of you who think 6 hours are from 7-5 you missed something in first grade when they went over counting. By the way you can thank a teacher for that if you can do it. My how quickly we forget our roots. Unless you were home schooled or just born as smart as you are today thank a teacher. If you are employed and have marketable skills thank a teacher. I think most of you are forgetting that the NEA and other unions don't represent many many teachers. I never once paid the first penny to those organizations. Do you have any idea how they get most people to join? They promise unlimited legal counsel should you get sued. You can thank parents who think teachers are just a bit better than your average burger flipper and greedy lawyers sho could care less who they sue as long as they get paid. At $510 every 2 weeks you are getting a bargain. You are not only getting an educator but a counselor and a nurse. In many many cases you are also getting someone who gives those children more love in those school hours than they get all week at home. Instead of whining about us lousy teachers how about home schooling your child and just 4 other friends for a month and then see how you feel. Just one more math problem to leave you with....lets pretend for just a minute that the only thing you expected from a teacher was what you might expect from a babysitter on Friday night. At $6 an hour for 19 children for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week for 35 weeks a year that would be $119,700 a year and that doesn't include the first bit of learning, bandaging knees, finding lost teeth on the playground to send home to the tooth fairy, wiping away tears because their best friend likes the same boy, phone calls from parents at 10:00 the night before the book report is due findindg out what THEIR assignment is, checking for head lice, cleaning up the vomit, writing lesson plans, spending your own money to buy a child a costume for the play because the parent refused, holding a 6 year old on our lap crying his eyes out because his daddy left for good this time(we think), telling your class that their friend has cancer, reporting child abuse, cheering for that slow learner that finally gets it the 100th way you have tried explaining it, eating with 6 year olds who all chew with their mouths open, unstopping the class toilet, trying to explain how the class pet had babies last night, going to sporting events on your own time and your family's own time just to show you care, attending the funeral of a student, laughing yourself silly over the sweet things they say......I would say even at $50k a year your getting a great deal.

[Jhoffa_]

I too am sick of the stereotype of the perfect teacher, bein cheated out of her "due"

Screw them.. If you can't afford to teach, then get a real, year round job like everyone else.

Otherwise, hush up. People are tired of hearing it.

They aren't conscripts you know.

[honeygrl]

Most of my high school teachers had big beautiful homes with new cars. You don't get that with low income.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Well, I've been on many "teacher bashing" threads on FR before.

As a teacher, I guess my main complaint is that many people blame the problems on the teachers without examining what effects the laws, rules and regulations passed by State and Federal governments have on education (if you have several hours' free time, I can give you the complete rundown). Teachers are the visible elements, and while I don't doubt that some are terrible (as with any profession), it is too simplistic to just say that they're the problem with the school system.

As for salary, I know that next year will be my ninth year of service in the same school system, and this might be the first year I gross more than $30,000. Even teachers with doctorates around here rarely make more than $40,000.

I don't doubt that teachers make higher salaries in some places, but in everyday rural America, it just isn't so.

[rwfromkansas]

Alert!

If you are pissed about me pinging you, tell me.....lol.

[rwfromkansas]

Here we go again.

[MEGoody]

I'm glad that the teacher's pay thing is a 'myth'. On the other hand, we pay millions to men who play ball or people who sing songs. Kind of shows where the priorities of Americans are.

[summer]

Market forces do operate in Phoenix Catholic schools, where teachers are paid 10 percent less than public school teachers, although their classes are considerably larger.

He should write an essay about this true fact, as Cathloic school teachers and private school teachers are usually paid much less than public school teachers. This is why public school teachers do not want "market forces" -- meaning: no union -- with respect to salaries, because salaries will plummett like the private school teacher salaries. Earning in the low $20's for teaching a classroom of kids is just too little. True, some local reporters may earn less, but if education does matter, then, teachers -- including private school teachers -- should earn more.

[ampat]

Don't forget to figure in the fact that some students are home-schooled and private-schooled. That ups the spending per pupil some more.

[Fiddlstix]

Bump