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Teacher Salaries: More Attention Needed to Specifics ( The Millionaire Next Door)
EducationNews.org ^ | June 16, 2006 | David W. Kirkpatrick

Posted on 06/17/2006 5:15:15 AM PDT by wintertime

One of the ongoing controversies in the public schools is the issue of teacher salaries. Teachers largely claim they are too low while taxpayers are equally vehement that they are more than adequate.

(snip)

Then there are the actual salary levels. Statistics in 2005 showed the average teacher salary in the nation was $46,762, ranging from a low of $33,236 in South Dakota to $57,337 in Connecticut. Even this ignores the additional compensation teachers receive as fringe benefits, which may add an additional 33% or more to the costs, primarily for very good retirement and health coverage plans. Further, averages include starting teacher salaries, which may begin at $30,000 or less, which teachers gladly mention, but ignore the high salaries of career teachers at or near the maximum on their salary schedule, important because retirement pensions are often based on the best three or so years.

(snip)

Last year, the New York State Department of Education issued a study that reported maximum teacher salaries in that state of $100,000 or more and median salaries as high as $98,000 per year. That is, there were districts, in Westchester County for example, where half of the teachers earned more than $98,000 a year.

A novel approach a few years ago by Michael Antonucci, director of the Education Intelligence Agency in California, compared teachers average salaries to average salaries all workers state by state. First prize went to Pennsylvania where the teachers received 62.5% more than the average employee. That difference is even greater when it is further considered that teachers average a 185 day work year while most workers put in 235.

(snip) Women who had been educators were 7.4% of the total deceased that year but 20.6% of them, nearly three times the statistical expectation were among the affluent few. Former male educators didn't do quite as well but even they were represented among the wealthy decedents by a ratio nearly 1.5 times the anticipated numerical ratio.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: education; educrats; govwatch; notbreakingnews; teacherpay; teachers
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To: Kay Ludlow

I had a professor tell me to go to PA because with my area of specialization I could make a lot more than here in SC. I like PA, I think it is a beautiful state and everyone I have ever met from there has been wonderful. However, I was taught as a child that unions were evil and I am NOT going to go to work in an area where I have to join one in order to have a job. The unions have destroyed more aspects of our country than just the education field.


321 posted on 06/17/2006 2:02:09 PM PDT by MissEdie
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To: WHESS

AMEN to you! I whole heartedly agree!


322 posted on 06/17/2006 2:04:21 PM PDT by MissEdie
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To: Kay Ludlow
When I was growing up teachers who were the only wage earner in the house had to find summer work to make ends meet too. That's when teacher salaries were more comparable to their fellow citizens. That's not the case today for the most part. Starting salaries may be low in some areas, but the increase over time, along with the job security more than makes up for that.

Tell you what. Take a look at the NC public teachers salary with an advanced salary.

2005-2006 salary schedules (pdf file)

30+ years is less than $52,000 with a Master's Degree. Add a supplement for another $8,000 (and that's really stretching it on the supplement). Why don't you tell us all where you work for over 30 years and barely crack $60,000? Even with a Masters Degree they don't hit $40,000 until after year 12. I for one wouldn't do it. And a few years ago, I actually considered a lateral move into the industry. But less than $40,000 for 12 years of experience? No thanks.

Matter of fact, I don't know one person outside of teaching that makes less than $40k. With less than 10 years experience. So who are these 'oommon citizens' who are making less than teachers? If I were you I'd stick to what I know. Teachers' salaries are not definitely not your forte.

323 posted on 06/17/2006 2:06:41 PM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: WHESS

Apparently she's getting her information from her sister, who used to be a teacher. Apparently a really crappy one, too.


324 posted on 06/17/2006 2:08:19 PM PDT by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: Amelia; All

LOL-I agree. Either that or she's pissed that she didn't think to go into the 'cushy' world of teaching. She'd be disappointed to find the reality, wouldn't she?
You guys, this is the first day I have ever posted on FR-it is amazingly addictive and I have had a blast today, thanks! But I have done absolutely NOTHING else today and the day has gotten away from me! I hope to talk to you all again soon.


325 posted on 06/17/2006 2:17:05 PM PDT by WHESS
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To: Amelia
Yes, there are 3 districts in this area. This coming week they are all sending all of their administrators and district office staff to a "retreat" at an oceanfront condominium for a full week at Myrtle Beach. Courtesy of the local tax payers (unknown to them). Granted, this comes two weeks after the finance director cut 9 summer school teaching positions to "save money". The parents of the kids in summer school were promised no more than a 6-1 student teacher ratio so they could get the most benefit from remediation. It ended up being over 15 kids in one class, which defeated the purpose.
326 posted on 06/17/2006 2:19:13 PM PDT by MissEdie
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To: Amelia

Especially at the younger levels, on a rainy day when recess is out of the question!


327 posted on 06/17/2006 2:22:18 PM PDT by MissEdie
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To: Zon

This is really for everyone but I dont know how to do reply all yet.

Okay what gets me too is when a teacher whines about ballplayer's salaries.

Typical a teacher I know I saw the day the Cubs signed Derrek Lee to a new deal.

She whined "Derrek Lee makes 10 million and I make 75,000"

It's supply and demand. Lots more people can teach than can hit like Lee does when he's healthy,

I happened to get my performance review at work. I hate when people whine about players salaries in general compared to what they make.

What Lee makes has nothing to do with what I or a teacher makes. Actually it might since I work for the Tribune Co which also owns the Cubs. But my boss didn't say "Sorry ashamedtobefromparkridge I'd give you more money but the Cubs make so much money"


328 posted on 06/17/2006 2:31:43 PM PDT by ashamedtobefromparkridge
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To: wintertime

Not all teachers are. I'm a Rupublican teacher in a Democratic nest. I work my ass off all year. I get payed for 10 months only . I take home $557 a week and I've been teaching 10 years. I dont know who all these hight payed teachers are , certainly not me . I don't kiss the arses of the corrupt Democrats that run NJ so I have to actually work all day and I dont mind it at all.I tell the kids the TRUTH that they NEVER hear in school or the media . Most people who put down teachers wouldn't last 5 min. with the kids I have to deal with all day .Most non-teachers think the classroom is still like it was in the 50s "Leave it to Beaver " style problems..Anyway , I'm sure I'm wasting my breath here.


329 posted on 06/17/2006 2:36:18 PM PDT by Tiberius109
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To: WHESS

cushy' world of teaching
You wouldn't last 5 min. in an urban classroom .


330 posted on 06/17/2006 2:37:52 PM PDT by Tiberius109
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To: WHESS

We're glad to have you! :-)


331 posted on 06/17/2006 2:38:22 PM PDT by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: Tiberius109

sorry-should I have added sarcasm? You may want to go back and read my other posts.
I am a fellow teacher.


332 posted on 06/17/2006 2:40:50 PM PDT by WHESS
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To: WHESS

On me sorry ..Just jumped in here ..I should know better ..


333 posted on 06/17/2006 2:42:06 PM PDT by Tiberius109
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To: Tiberius109; WHESS
You wouldn't last 5 min. in an urban classroom .

Maybe you should go back & read post #303, which is what WHESS was commenting on...then come back & apologize to WHESS.

334 posted on 06/17/2006 2:42:17 PM PDT by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: Tiberius109

k, I see you did... :-)


335 posted on 06/17/2006 2:42:55 PM PDT by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: MissEdie

Ours did something similar to that last year. For all I know they do it every summer. *sheesh*


336 posted on 06/17/2006 2:43:56 PM PDT by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: Clara Lou

I think that happened more in my daughters old school. That school had lots of well-behaved kids and good parent participation. The teacher had time to differentiate the material for both the "gifted" kids and the "LD" kids.

In the girls new school, there are so many kids with behavior problems that the teacher has had to spend most of her time on discipline.

My daughter had the same teacher in the 2 schools, and it is amazing how much difference was made by switching schools. I realized how much impact a poor administration had on teachers.


337 posted on 06/17/2006 2:44:17 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: rwfromkansas
If you move schools, you get put at the bottom of the salary scale, too, don't you?

Not if we move within the state, but I've known teachers who moved from one state to another & found their experience in one state wasn't counted by the 2nd state.

338 posted on 06/17/2006 2:46:58 PM PDT by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: Kay Ludlow

"Can't have our children being educated in buildings that are over 30 years old..."

A lot of private schools in our area (San Jose, Ca) have rented out the older closed public schools, and I like the older schools much better. They had bigger classrooms and more windows. Because of the nice weather most of them have outdoor corridors and the classrooms open straight to the outdoors. Plus, they are smaller.


339 posted on 06/17/2006 2:47:35 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Kay Ludlow

My gifted son hates group projects. He does tons of work, and other kids do none.


340 posted on 06/17/2006 2:48:58 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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