From reading through the posts, we teachers are damned if we do and damned if we don't. According to some, I'm a lesser teacher because if I don't go to a top-rated university, but if I do, it's a waste of time. My masters is from University of Virginia and I graduated with a perfect 4.0. Some here may think it's a waste, but I have parents that will disagree with you. My education taught me how to teach reading and I am damn good at it.
As far as pay goes, my pay is determined by two separate groups of board members and I have little control over it, other than to move to a different county. If I chose to spend 90 minutes in the car each way, I could earn $25-30k a year more, but I don't make that choice.
And yes, I do get 10 weeks off in the summer and I like it. If someone here doesn't like the fact that they don't get that time off, be a teacher and bask in the love and admiration of your peers here.
What I especially love is the general idea that I should hold my head in shame and actually grovel to the public at large and beg for a pittance on which to live. Bull-hockey. I earn every penny I'm paid. Of course there are some bad eggs in the profession and I hold those people in contempt and loathing. We are given an important task and abusing that priviledge is a crime. (For those of you getting ready to ask that one important question on your fingers, no I'm not in a union-never have, never will be.)
As far as being overpaid, well, what would most people chose to pay teachers?
If your only goal was to be a good teacher then going to an expensive college or university was a waste of money. Community colleges and state universities are MORE than adequate to do the job. I also bet that your colleagues who did not spend big bucks to become a teacher would resent your notion that you are a better teacher than they are.
Unlike other professions, attendance at a top-name college is not at all required to thrive and do well in teaching.
However....if your goal was social prestige, or climbing the social ladder then possibly you did not waste your money.
My masters is from University of Virginia and I graduated with a perfect 4.0. Some here may think it's a waste, but I have parents that will disagree with you. My education taught me how to teach reading and I am damn good at it.
Research shows that master degrees in education do not improve the effectiveness of the teacher. Also,,,,attendance at an expensive college has only one advantage over a state university...snob appeal. The only people impressed by a big name college are other grads of expensive colleges. And,,,again, your colleagues would resent that you believe that your are a better teacher than they simply due to your costly credential. ( They would likely think you are an idiot as well.)<.p>