6-Figure Salaries? To Many Teachers, a Matter of Course

NY Times ^ | 6/5/05 | FORD FESSENDEN and JOSH BARBANEL

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

...But this noble sensibility ignores a crucial fact about the teaching profession in Westchester County: Teacher pay levels in Scarsdale, and several other districts in the county, are now high enough to constitute an entry ticket to upper-middle-class income and status. In Scarsdale, 166 teachers - nearly half - have base salaries exceeding $100,000; for more than a dozen, base pay tops $120,000.

A study of teacher salaries across New York State found that as administrators and affluent parents compete to give their children every possible advantage, thousands of teachers in the New York suburbs now make six-figure salaries - numbers strongly at variance with the popular stereotype of the poorly paid, altruistic mentor of the young.

The study indicates that only the most experienced teachers, with the most education, earn such salaries - which are the highest in the nation. But the money is arguably substantial enough to affect what it means to be a public school teacher. Consider this, for instance: A family whose parents both teach in Westchester schools can make enough to put it in the top 6 percent of earners in the county.

Teachers say the salaries are justified, even necessary, in a place where the cost of living is high. "You can earn $100,000 and not afford to live here," said Susan Taylor, a longtime Scarsdale teacher who heads the district's teacher training institute...

[moog]

In San Jose, the teachers get paid didly squat (under the state average), and the administrators get paid way over the state average. San Jose is an expensive area, and the teachers should get paid more to work here.

I can't stand our administrators. They treat our teachers horribly.

I once saw an article about a guy who was homeless around there who made a very good salary, but couldn't afford the rent.

[moog]

Privatize the schools, then. I am all for the elimination of property taxes, which are little more than rent to the government. And while we are at it, we can privatize NASA. Which party do I vote for to get all of that done?

Might as well privatize the government too while we're at it.

[bannie]

Only those who have external relationships with teachers are aware of the hours spent at home.

I'm not complaining: It's not like it's a surprise unknown before one accepts the position. It's just that there are many aspects to teaching about which others aren't fully aware.

Further, teachers often do have two months off in the summer; however, those months are spent without pay. Essentially, teachers are unemployed for two months a year.

As I said, teachers can't complain because they know what the rules are before they enlist.

Sadly, teachers seem to be the current sacrificial lambs for politicians. It may seem fair that they take their turn...except that this game definitely hurts the students.

[moog]

--,i>he posted to another--My parents get up at 4:30 every morning and go in hours early to help kids before school. They come home, eat, and grade papers until 8 or 9. They go to bed and do it all over again. They grade all weekend so that the kids can get their assignments back on time. I grew up watching them earn their money. I work all year long, and I don't feel my work ethic even approaches theirs.

--his reply to him-- That describes many other people's work pace - people that get paid far less and have far less benefits. Your parents get paid to do that job. They are not underpaid.

It depends. My wife has much better benefits than me and earns much more than I do as a teacher, though I have been working twice as long and work MANY more hours than she does. Yes, there are overpaid teachers and there are underpaid ones. There are overpaid and underpaid people in almost every field.

The ones I appreciate (in any field) are the ones who do their job the best they can and try to enjoy it despite the difficulties. A job done well, with the right attitude, is a noble one. It's easy to complain, it's harder to compliment. How many of us thank the farmer who supplies our food, the truck drivers who bring materials to our stores, the police officers who keep us safe, and so on and so on. We should search for those who are diligent, sincere workers in ANY field. I knew a guy whose job it was to clean up the chicken poop of 60,000 chickens all day, every day at an egg farm. He was one of the most pleasant, happy guys you could meet. It's that kind of person whom I respect.

[moog]

not because they had successfully completed a degree in politically-correct indoctrination, Rainbow curricula, diversity training, etc.

Do you know anything about these??? I don't and the teachers in my school don't. Perhaps you could come to our school for some inservice training....

[moog]

The majority of education dollars in my district are going to pay for new school renovations that we don't need. That's the real excess.

Yes, it can be excessive. A school district here wanted to rennovate all of their schools in one year except one. Not a good move....

Nevertheless, having well-built schools is a major priority for many parents too.

[moog]

Only those who have external relationships with teachers are aware of the hours spent at home. I'm not complaining: It's not like it's a surprise unknown before one accepts the position. It's just that there are many aspects to teaching about which others aren't fully aware. Further, teachers often do have two months off in the summer; however, those months are spent without pay. Essentially, teachers are unemployed for two months a year. As I said, teachers can't complain because they know what the rules are before they enlist. Sadly, teachers seem to be the current sacrificial lambs for politicians. It may seem fair that they take their turn...except that this game definitely hurts the students.

I agree with every one of your points. I think that ALL of us shouldn't complain so much and focus on what we can do to make this world a better place rather than sit on the fence, find fault, place blame, and bicker about it.

[bannie]

I wonder if some of those renovations might be electronic? We have entered into a world in which the students are behind if they don't have computer access.

One may not like the way things are, but it's the way they are.

[moog]

Posted by bannie to moog On News/Activism 06/12/2005 10:57:09 AM PDT · 248 of 248 I wonder if some of those renovations might be electronic? We have entered into a world in which the students are behind if they don't have computer access.

One may not like the way things are, but it's the way they are.

Most kids do have computer access. I believe the bigger differences are made by good parents, good community role models (this includes religious ones), good friends, and good teachers (probably in that order).

[bannie]

Sadly, I believe, the computer access is necessary. It's a kind of equalizer. Just like a freshman is expected to know about The Odyssey in order to be educated, students are expected to be computer-savy for the same reason.

[moog]

Sadly, I believe, the computer access is necessary. It's a kind of equalizer. Just like a freshman is expected to know about The Odyssey in order to be educated, students are expected to be computer-savy for the same reason.

Yes, that is true. I didn't have a computer the majority of my time in college and had little time to go to computer labs because I was trying to make enough to just get by. Plus, I hadn't used them in a few years. I got marked down in some classes because of it.

[Oberon]

I like to have discussions rather than arguments most of the time. If you have to resort to name-calling, blaming others, etc. (like many liberals), then you don't have a point any more and have run out of things to say (of meaning that is).

Truly, moog, the above was me bowing out gracefully, having recognized that I had little more to contribute, and nothing to gain.

[moog]

---I like to have discussions rather than arguments most of the time. If you have to resort to name-calling, blaming others, etc. (like many liberals), then you don't have a point any more and have run out of things to say (of meaning that is).

Truly, moog, the above was me bowing out gracefully, having recognized that I had little more to contribute, and nothing to gain.

You seem like a fair-minded person and a wonderful father. I wish there were more people around like that.

[moog]

Admittedly, I use sarcasm at times rather than argue back. That can tick off people even more as I have found out every time I laugh at any driver who feels the need to flip me off. I have toned it down a lot, except for the evolution/creation debate threads which are pretty humorous and entertaining (I support creation).

[BJungNan]

The ones I appreciate (in any field) are the ones who do their job the best they can and try to enjoy it despite the difficulties. A job done well, with the right attitude, is a noble one.

So true! I suppose that is what bugs me about teachers - at least the ones complaining. They always try to say they should be paid more because their job is more important. it is not more important. It is just different.

[moog]

The ones I appreciate (in any field) are the ones who do their job the best they can and try to enjoy it despite the difficulties. A job done well, with the right attitude, is a noble one.
So true! I suppose that is what bugs me about teachers - at least the ones complaining. They always try to say they should be paid more because their job is more important. it is not more important. It is just different.

I agree, though I do think it is a very important job.

[moog]

Is your name Korean?

[luckystarmom]

I know of some teachers in the area that can't afford to buy a house.

The father of one of my son's friends is a teacher. They live in low-income housing. They have 3 kids, and live in a tiny apartment.

I think that a reasonable pay for a teacher depends on the area they live in, and I think that a teacher should be able to buy a modest house.

I believe there are other careers that should be paid more, but I also think that teaching is a respectable job and they should not live in low-income apartments.

[moog]

Posted by luckystarmom to moog On News/Activism 06/12/2005 5:26:20 PM PDT · 258 of 258 I know of some teachers in the area that can't afford to buy a house. The father of one of my son's friends is a teacher. They live in low-income housing. They have 3 kids, and live in a tiny apartment. I think that a reasonable pay for a teacher depends on the area they live in, and I think that a teacher should be able to buy a modest house. I believe there are other careers that should be paid more, but I also think that teaching is a respectable job and they should not live in low-income apartments.

I can relate firsthand to that. I found out that I couldn't get a loan on my salary alone. I think with the formulas that I could afford to buy an overpriced bathroom or something. We do have a decent (average) home, but it's because of both of our salaries.

I do think that a lot of teachers do live comfortably and not in low-income apartments. That being said, I don't see really any here that are rich unless their SPOUSE has a lucrative job.

A reasonable teachers' pay depends on a lot of factors. I will conceed that some are overpaid and some are not. It is an important job as well as other jobs are too.

[BJungNan]

Is your name Korean?

Nope, Chinese.