[elfman2]

“Sure, but will that extra job earn anywhere near $34/hr, NO!... Then there is the other little matter of teaching jobs not having anywhere near the perks of the white-collar jobs the article wants to compare with… teachers do not get coffee break time… often are expected to attend evening PTA meetings, sports events, club meetings, etc and these extra hours”

What color is the sky in your world?

Many teachers in technical fields earn MUCH more during summer breaks. But you’re right that the majority of teachers with soft degrees are not qualified to earn their salaries in the private sector.

All those job complaints you listed exist in blue and white collar private industry to varying degrees– poor benefits, need to keep up with technology on your own time, no break time at work, after hour expectations, etc.. Sometimes they’re better, sometimes worse, but nowhere outside of teaching is a salary spread out over 2-3 contiguous months where the worker is not working. There’s no way around that. If Teacher’s salaries are calculated hourly and compared to other professions, they need to be adjusted to account for summer breaks.

[moog]

If Teacher’s salaries are calculated hourly and compared to other professions, they need to be adjusted to account for summer breaks and for "other" hours too.

Just like a retail manager at Christmas time.