The baloney that teachers are not paid well is ridiculous. I have three sisters, all of whom are teachers at the elementary level in CA. All three of them make in excess of $68,000 a year, and this for a 180 day contract. They pay less than $100 a month for their benefits, have lifetime medical when they retire (at no charge), accumulate their sick leave which they can use as an offset and retire early, and do not pay into social security (they do pay into the medi care portion, only).
Grant you, they have been working in their respective districts for over 10 years and all have pursued their master's degrees, but they still far and away make more money than most in private industry when you add in the benefits, at least in this area of the state.
Most people in private industry work 220 to 230 days a year, not 180. Their salaries frankly are the equivelent of somone one making close to $90,000 a year. Oh. and also, their spouse is covered for medical as well AT NO COST TO THEM when they retire.
It's time to stop the gravy train and expose the whiners.
The problem is that everyone gets paid the same based primarily on longevity. That means that a great teacher who teachers AP Physics and produces outstanding results AND gets paid the same as a teacher who just passes out volleyballs all day.