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You people all need a wake up call. These are college educated individuals. There are definitely some poor teachers. However the sad fact is that many people avoid or leave education because of the lack of funds.

My wife has taught 5th grade for 22 years in Leawood, Kansas. It is a school in a wealthy suburb so for the most part the parents and students. The hours and planning they have, especially with all the new testing , has them working much more then 40 hour weeks. It is funny that other professions with 4 plus year college degrees would be appalled at $34 dollars an hour but some how teachers should be "happy" with the pay.

I admittedly thought teachers were paid alright until I got a first hand glimpse with my wife. Today teachers also have to be part counsellor, deal with parents that "know more" then the teacher. Any problem the child has is "the schools" fault.

I am a big proponent of school voucher systems and making schools perform, thus the teachers. However all of you need a wake-up call if you think teachers pay is fair for their responsibility. Now if we could get the NEA out of the school system we would really be doing something!!!

shoedog is correct. If you want to just compare salaries and the hours of school you are twisting the facts. As a teacher and coach in Texas, I make less than my wife who is an RN. The difference is that there is an element of competition in the medical profession where there is not one in public education. We need vouchers and a just compensation--but let's not continue to throw money away like we currently are. Competition works in public education. Just go look at any high school football program in Texas. Kids are grouped by ability, work hard to improve their skills, and are tested every Friday in the Fall. Add to that their coaches are competitively hired based on job performance, which includes wins and losses but also includes the number of kids signing letters of intent for various colleges. Those who say competition won't work in public education are the same ones who are wouldn't make the effort to compete in the first place.

Teachers shouldn't be paid as high as other professions--it doesn't involve as technical of work, but that doesn't mean we don't work as hard. I get home often around 8 or so and still have 3 hours worth of correcting or other stuff. Often, I'm up at 2 or 3 working. Not to mention many MORE hours on weekends and such. Nonetheless, I enjoy it and love the kids I teach.