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...

[Koblenz]

One big problem with teacher salaries is that it is not easy to determine who is a good teacher and who's not. But $100K in Scarsdale isn't a lot: housing is incredibly expensive around here (I'm not too far away in Ridgefield, CT).

[CasearianDaoist]

Yes, I am not surprised at all. The NYC Ed budget is in the Billions (3 or 6, I cannot remember.)

There was a case a while back where someone in the Education bureaucracy was making a small fortune selling stolen supplies to Staples in bulk. The corruption must be beyond belief. I can Imagine that is it similar in the Dallas area as well. I know of teacher that have been told that they cannot fail blacks or hispanics.

When I hear the NEA local complain about money I just get sick to my stomach. The City Council is in the process of raising the amounts that Union can donate to political campaigns in the City.

We are headed for rough times here. The Unions - and in particular the NEA - are beyond belief.

[mysterio]

A good teacher is someone who is a good teacher in spite of his or her education, not as a result of it.

It is truly sad that you believe this statement. It is even more sad that you destroyed your own argument by inserting it into the debate.

[BJungNan]

166 teachers - nearly half - have base salaries exceeding $100,00

That is for just nine months work, mind you. In real dollars as compared to other professions, a teacher making $100,000 a year is earning at a rate of $133,000 a year. And they enjoy top rate benefits, include retirement at 80% of their salary or more.

Anyone that says teachers are underpaid is very uniformed or is being purposely deceptive.

[BJungNan]

Teachers deserve every penny for what they have to put up with and the importance of the jobs they do.

Complete and total BS. They put up with no more or no less than any other profession and get paid far more than most. I hope you were being sarcastic and I just missed it.

[Oberon]

So the teachers you know suck, and that means no teachers deserve a good salary? Great!

All of the teachers I know are great, therefore all teachers deserve a great salary.

I'll freely concede that your life experience differs from mine. Heck, that's why we disagree, right?

But there's nothing wrong with disagreeing. It doesn't mean you're a BAD person.

[mysterio]

Absolutely. I totally agree.

Each of us paints with a broader stroke than is warranted because of our personal experience.

[JohnD9207]

6 figure salaries for teachers? Absolutely as it should be!

Just as soon as teachers accept just a small part of the blame when kids can't read! Here in Texas, this years scandal has been that numerous school districts in Dallas, and Houston that ranked at the bottom in Tasks Testing rose to the highest pass rate in the state. The problem here is that No one in these districts questioned these scores, just praised themselves. Once the state saw these scores they investigated and found that (shock) the teachers cheated.

When teachers strike, why is it always about money? For once I would support a strike if teachers would demand a comprehensive discipline plan that REMOVES dangerous disruptive students from the system. Perhaps striking for a peer review system that works. Cheating teachers should be removed from the classroom. Now before all the teachers flame me, I understand that MOST teachers are hard working professionals. But until discipline is restored in the classroom, and there is a system to remove nonproductive teachers (admit it teachers you all know someone you wouldn't want teaching your kids) then things aren't going to get much better.

[mysterio]

No, I'm not being sarcastic. The teachers in my area are underpaid. They make nothing close to $100,000 dollars. My parents have given the best years of their lives to teaching. And they make nowhere near that salary. They do it because they love the kids and totally believe in the profession. They raised me to feel the same way.

In the '70s, teachers in my area were at the poverty level. My dad had to quit for four years and sell cars to make enough money for us to have enough to keep going. Salaries started going up in the '80s, and he couldn't take being away from it, so he came back. My mom and dad are the best teachers I have ever seen.

Most of you seem to believe the hype that our schools are absolute cesspools of lazy liberal teachers who hardly work. That's not what I grew up with.

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.

The media and the political pundits only focus on the flaws of educations, and that's fine. It makes education better. However, the flaws aren't the majority, just like any other profession. Yes, property taxes are too high. I believe property taxes should be eliminated. I also believe a lot of government spending should be eliminated. Perhaps education should be totally privatized. I would support that.

But as it stands, the teachers I know earned and fought for every penny they got. That's my take on the issue. And most of them aren't making even near $100,000. My parents certainly aren't, and they have more than 30 years in.

[JohnD9207]

That is for just nine months work, mind you. In real dollars as compared to other professions, a teacher making $100,000 a year is earning at a rate of $133,000 a year. And they enjoy top rate benefits, include retirement at 80% of their salary or more.

Correction...the school year is 181 days a year. 9 months covers the summer vacation. Week off for Thanksgiving, 2 weeks at Christmas, 1 week spring break. Thanks.

[BJungNan]

My parents have given the best years of their lives to teaching. And they make nowhere near that salary.

I'll read more of your post in a second, but this jumped out at me. How much is "nowhere near" $100,000? I'll bet it is $50,000 (for nine months of work) with great benefits and retirement. That is better than most for a job with great job security and benefits.

[BJungNan]

Most of you seem to believe the hype that our schools are absolute cesspools of lazy liberal teachers who hardly work. That's not what I grew up with.

That's not my point. My point is that even allowing that every teacher was a great teacher, teachers are at the least well paid and in many instances grossly overpaid.

[oceanview]

no politician, in either party, will speak out against the cost of education - specifically the salaries and bloat of the administrative staffs.

[BJungNan]

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.

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.

[CasearianDaoist]

THe syustem is broken, that is why we need vouchers.

[mysterio]

I think they are close to $50,000 after 30 years. And you are assuming that they don't work in the summer. I would put the hours they work against anyone out there. Except maybe corporate lawyers working their first year.

And if it is $50,000, that is nowhere near $100,000.

The money they made in the first couple of decades was rediculously low. They fought hard to get paid a fair wage. And teachers around here with fewer years get much less than that.

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.

[JohnD9207]

I'll bet it is $50,000 (for nine months of work) with great benefits and retirement. That is better than most for a job with great job security and benefits

Don't forget most don't pay Social Security. While the teachers retirement system is just ok...the 200-400 a month they save not paying into social security adds to the bottom line. Not bitching...but there are perks that add to salary. Not sure I would work as a teacher...its tough. Being an RN, I have my own deal and have been happy with job, and benefits. Besides I knew what compensation to expect after graduation.

[VeniVidiVici]

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.

And, to me, your folks would be worth it because I can guarantee that the kids probably learn more and enjoy going to their classes.

The only teachers I know are the ones who work from 7 - 3, teach 4 periods and demand to do all work during the school day.

I think most salaried employees work much more than a normal 8 or 9 hour day. Why do salaried teachers think they should be exempt other than that's what the union wants?

[mysterio]

No. They are paid fairly. And teachers living in more expensive areas who do what my parents do are paid fairly as well. I bet I could find overpaid people in many professions, and many of those professions are taxpayer funded. That doesn't change the fact that the majority of people out there work hard for their money and deserve to be rewarded for that hard work.

[Alberta's Child]

Hey, don't get me wrong -- I had some extraordinary teachers in my childhood. But they were extraordinary because of their knowledge of the subject matter they taught, their ability to get their students interested in learning, etc. -- not because they had successfully completed a degree in politically-correct indoctrination, Rainbow curricula, diversity training, etc.