[lizma]

There was an article in the local paper a few years ago that investigated teacher’s pay.

According to the authors, if you take into account salary, benefits and hours worked (by union contract around here, they work about a 3 day work week), starting pay is the equivalent to $50/hr!!!

Tenured, close to retirement is $100/hr!!!

I was a physician before I left the work force to raise my kids. With half the hours, a quarter of the stress, I'm definitely consider teaching when I re-enter the work force.

[netmilsmom]

I was an office manager for two psychiatrist and their therapists before I was married. My favorite boss left his practice for a government job because he was going broke.

The good thing about teaching is that when your kids are home from school so are you.

[HIDEK6]

With half the hours, a quarter of the stress, I'm definitely consider teaching when I re-enter the work force.

I certaintly hope, then, that my suggestion is adopted.

1) Put the education department under the department of defense.

2) Encourage retired people to volunteer their services to teach, thus costing us taxpayers nothing.

This teacher gravy train must be de-railed.

[glory]

I hear you lizma..if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. If I had not made the commitment to homeschool my own, I would definiately consider getting my certification because I'm so sick of fighting the good fight. People refuse to stand up to this monster because they plain and simple, do not know how or do not want to handle their own children. Their own lack of creativity and initiative reveals the problem with the ps education they received. You should hear the bellyaches over here because extracurriculars were cut. You'd think the earth had spun off of it's axle--what are these kids to do. They'll get in trouble--God forbid we the parents have to reach into our fairly affluent pockets(OR CALENDER) to actually make sure little Suzy or Johnny has something to do with their time. Have these idiots ever thought of forming a community league for various sports and then *gasp* ALL children in the community could participate(much like the younger leagues) and not just those enrolled in ps.

[Fury]

According to the authors, if you take into account salary, benefits and hours worked (by union contract around here, they work about a 3 day work week), starting pay is the equivalent to $50/hr!!!

I suppose the real issue here is "What will the market bear"?

Tomorrow is the day for most budget votes in Western New York. I expect that there will be several school district budget votes that go down to defeat. But the issue of teacher compensation, especially health care costs, is one of the fastest increasing budget line items in this area of country. I did some checking and several of the area school's health care plans for teachers include $0 deductables for many items, verey low ($5) co-pays, etc.

One of the areas that needs to be looked at is making sure when a contract is up for a district's collective bargaining unit, that ALL items be on the table - pay, benefits, etc.

Until then, school districts will have to pay whatever the CBA calls for. And ultimately, the "market" (taxpayers in the district) will determine how teachers are compensated. For the school district I am moving to in about 2 weeks, the school taxes are going up ~20% in one year, from ~$17.25 to ~$21.00/$1000 AV.

The issue of what teachers earn is a moot point if double-digit school tax rate increases continue to occur. There will come a time when people simply cannot afford to buy a home. You are hearing of more and more areas in Western New York where the monthly taxes are more than the P&I.