Because an experienced teacher was paid about $4000 a year in 1950. Do you know any teacher that works for $4000 per year today? Average teacher pay in my district is $63,000. In order to pay the average teacher $63,000, I (as well as a lot of my neighbors) have to pay $10,000 annually in property taxes + major state income taxes. That is a convoluted way to say INFLATION!