$34.06 an Hour -- That's how much the average public school teachers makes. Is that "underpaid"?

The Wall Street Journal ^ | February 2, 2007 | Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters

[Zakeet]

Who, on average, is better paid--public school teachers or architects? How about teachers or economists? You might be surprised to learn that public school teachers are better paid than these and many other professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public school teachers earned $34.06 per hour in 2005, 36% more than the hourly wage of the average white-collar worker and 11% more than the average professional specialty or technical worker.

In the popular imagination, however, public school teachers are underpaid. "Salaries are too low. We all know that," noted First Lady Laura Bush, expressing the consensus view. "We need to figure out a way to pay teachers more." Indeed, our efforts to hire more teachers and raise their salaries account for the bulk of public school spending increases over the last four decades. During that time per-pupil spending, adjusted for inflation, has more than doubled; overall we now annually spend more than $500 billion on public education.

The perception that we underpay teachers is likely to play a significant role in the debate to reauthorize No Child Left Behind. The new Democratic majority intends to push for greater education funding, much of which would likely to go toward increasing teacher compensation. It would be beneficial if the debate focused on the actual salaries teachers are already paid.

It would also be beneficial if the debate touched on the correlation between teacher pay and actual results. To wit, higher teacher pay seems to have no effect on raising student achievement. Metropolitan areas with higher teacher pay do not graduate a higher percentage of their students than areas with lower teacher pay.

In fact, the urban areas with the highest teacher pay are famous for their abysmal outcomes.

[SoftballMominVA]

You pay in addition to being docked for sick leave too? I am all a goggle at this. Never heard of a system like yours!

[moog]

"Some do choose to work during that time, some take classes, myself I watch softball games."

I love to go to things for my students sometimes. The last 4 weekends I've gone to at least something for my students. About once or month, I go to a church service where one might have a part in. Those are my favorite ones. :)

[moog]

You pay in addition to being docked for sick leave too? I am all a goggle at this. Never heard of a system like yours!

We're not one of the high paying areas.

[moog]

"She has my sympathy. She must be an exceptional person. I've taught emotionally disturbed children. To be able to teach them for 19 years and maintain your sanity is truly exceptional. She should be paid double. Teaching today is bad enough, but to teach those children takes an extraordinary human being. God Bless her."

I used to listen to Michael Savage from time to time. One time a teacher called up. I expected the usual badgering I've become accustomed to, but Michael actually sat and listened and made an interesting quote. He said that if the teacher reached ONE person (made a difference in the life of) in each class, she had done her job. Even though I try to reach ALL of the kids in this way, I hope and pray each year that I have made a difference in the life of at least ONE child.

[moog]

I just googled and found that there are roughly 3 million teachers in the U.S. With threads and attitudes like this one, they will probably never, ever vote for a conservative candidate.

I pretty much do and I know others that do (my main issue besides education is having a strong defense and fighting against terrorism). But yes, when you get accused of all sorts of things, with the disrespect shown, with the name-calling, the emphasis on the negetive, the rampant generalizations, it is indeed hard for some to do so. Yes, SOME teachers make it look bad for the rest of us (and not one more than me gets more ticked off) , but many of us are parents, grandparents, spouses, etc. just trying to do our best too and it gets a little hard when you're being undermined some of the time.

[moog]

Let me see if I have that right. YOU work 50-60 hours a week, sometimes more, and you work on holidays and weekends. Other teachers just put in 35 hours -- and only during the time school is in session, and maybe the week before and the week after. And that teacher and you get paid the SAME? Is that what you are saying? I really find it hard to wrap my mind around that one. If so, why do you consider yourself overworked and underpaid? I can think of a few other descriptions for someone that would work 60 hours for the same pay as a colleague that works 35.

That's accurate actually. But then, I don't do it JUST for the pay either. It is really hard to factor in the extra hours as they are subjective. The positive feedback from parents and seeing the kids progress are often my rewards. BUT the bashing and negative atmoshpere are NOT what helps. To me it's the ATTITUDE that counts.

[Pure Country]

It's the equivalent to $25/hour with 3 months paid vacation plus excellent bene package.

Where we come from the benefits package is included in the salary. So...they are paying for their own insurance and if they want to add their family to the plan, it's over $500 a month. Doesn't sound like a great deal to me. Also, there is no time figured for lesson plans and grading papers, projects, etc. It always looks greener on the other side of the fence. Most people can't stand to be cooped up with their own children for a day...we should maybe try it with 25 or so of them. I think teachers earn everything they get......provided they are doing their job. Most teachers that I know work very hard and are getting close to burn-out....and me...I homeschooled after 15 years in public school education. Wouldn't want to go back, that's for sure!

[freedomfiter2]

My wife was a highschool teacher before she quit to raise a family. Here in northern PA I just saw an ad for the local district paying $82,000 to start. The average family income in our county is under $30,000.

[moog]

Most teachers that I know work very hard and are getting close to burn-out.

It's the negative attitudes that burn me out more than anything. :)

[moog]

"My wife was a highschool teacher before she quit to raise a family. Here in northern PA I just saw an ad for the local district paying $82,000 to start. The average family income in our county is under $30,000."

We lose a lot of teachers who do just that--stay home to raise a family. A number of our teachers at my current school did that and came back later to teach. $82,000???? That's even WAY beyond the highest salary here. :)
It sounds as if your area is a low-income one. Is the income per capita or per household?

[A Strict Constructionist]

You sound like my wife. No I'm the only one online at present.

[moog]

I'd BETTER NOT BE YOUR WIFE (unles you're into gay marriage--and no I'm not that either). I drive MY WIFE crazy enough as it is. :)

[A Strict Constructionist]

Hey I didn't look at the screen before I replied. My spy camera must have been on the blink.

[SoftballMominVA]

82k TO START? Woah baby, that's some sweet coin! No teacher in our district regardless of education or years in comes within 10K of that amount. Even teachers in Fairfax County, the flagship county in NoVa, top out at 88K and that is with a doctorate and 25 years of experience.

Starting teachers in the NoVa area are in the 30k-40k area, depending on proximity to Fairfax.

[moog]

Hey I didn't look at the screen before I replied. My spy camera must have been on the blink. Geez, and I have a short haircut too. :) But then I guess, short, fat, male first grade teachers are an endangered species. :)

[moog]

"Starting teachers in the NoVa area are in the 30k-40k area, depending on proximity to Fairfax."

Here, starting salaries are about $26,000 and TOP OUT at $52,000 (and that is with a PHD and 25 years of experience). Aft

[luckystarmom]

That makes sense.

[SoftballMominVA]

I tell you, I will never, ever be able to complain about my teaching schedule or salary when teaching has allowed me to watch 7 years of summer softball - and to travel all over the East Coast. I shudder when I think of trying to work a full week after spending over 30 hours a weekend on a hot field.

But when my softball days are over? Who knows? I might go back into private industry. Then watch, I'll be making more money, but pining for my days back in the classroom :)

[A Strict Constructionist]

According to my wife too endangered. She thinks more kids need the male influence in the early childhood stage of eduction.

He you described me except I'm not short and "teach" at a much later and less stressful stage, of the education process. One of our 2nd. year med. students came up to me at the first of last term and asked me if I was Mrs. X's husband. He had her in Kindergarten. Made me feel real old because even I still remember her talking about him (fondly). Unlike her I can't recognize the faces of a 5 y/o in an adult much less remember names. It always amazes me how ya'll effect kids so much that they will stop you on the street to say hello and be remembered. Even with our Grad.Students we don't have that kind of interaction in most cases.

[freedomfiter2]

Per household. Most full time grown men are making around $13 per hour and there a lot of stay at home mothers. Of course there many welfare households pulling the average down.