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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > November > 20 > Entry
Why do teachers really leave the profession?
Last week, a debate erupted in the comments under this post about teaching — Is it an easy job or hard job? Are teachers well paid or under paid? Do people flock to the profession to avoid real work or do they flee teaching jobs because the work is so hard the jobs are not worth the money?
Those are hot debates. But some of the answers, perhaps, aren’t that tough. And a recent Wall Street Journal story may provide an answer to the question of how big a factor money can be.
Let’s start with the relative ease or difficulty of teaching. I was asking a teacher I know about this question. Many smart people in tough professions look at teaching, with a work day that ends by 3 p.m. and the summer off, and think that sounds like a pretty cushy job.
The teacher’s reply? It might be easy in some districts to be a BAD teacher, but good teaching is challenging and consuming work. This teacher said it may take a lot of brain power to be an engineer or long hours to be a lawyer but there a unique challenges in the classroom that would stump a lot of hardworking people. It’s not easy to do a good job helping 25 kids each overcome their individual learning obstacles, the teacher said. It requires a lot of strategic trial and error. Plus there are situations teachers deal with that other professionals would find intolerable, like taming unfair and combative parents or enduring unhealthy work environments.
And, the teacher added, good teachers put in the hours — coaching, moderating, leading committees, meeting kids before and after school for extra help, grading with extended comments late into the night.
This put me in mind of a post I wrote a few months back about a study that looked at smart, knowledgeable people who became second career teachers and the skills they lacked on their first tries in a classroom.
Then there’s the question of pay. Are teachers really underpaid?
Last week in the Wall Street Journal a story addressed the question of what motivated high performers to leave a job. Better opportunities for advancement? Bad bosses? Bad work environments? That’s why most companies believe people leave.
What do the high performers say motivates them to leave? Most of the time it simply came down to money (I think a subscription may be needed to follow the link):
“In a survey of about 1,100 U.S. employees, 71% of top performers listed pay among the top three reasons they would consider leaving their employer. Yet in a sister survey of 262 large employers, 45% of employers cited pay as a top-three reason workers leave. Instead, employers thought promotion and career-development opportunities were more important. Another oft-blamed culprit, relationship with a supervisor, was cited by 31% of employers but 8% of top performers.
The results suggest employers don’t fully understand the needs of their top employees, frustrating companies’ efforts to battle turnover as the labor market improves. “Employers have probably gotten caught up in this myth that employees leave their manager or they leave for better opportunities,” says Laura Sejen, director of strategic rewards at Watson Wyatt. “Perhaps we’re being a little unrealistic about the fundamental element of rewards, which is pay.”
Which brings me back to the question of why people leave the teaching profession. Teachers say many get out because it’s a hard job and they can’t hack it. But those who leave frequently report that it was the low pay that drove them out.
So perhaps the Journal story lends credence to the argument that teachers are underpaid? If many people leave the profession (one study by a national teachers’ union said 50 percent of new teachers bail within five years) and this study shows good people most frequently leave jobs because of dissatisfaction with pay, perhaps many of these people bail because they feel underpaid?
I’ll end with a story. The last time I considered buying a new home the realtor driving me around neighborhood after neighborhood asked me what I did. When I told her I wrote about education for a newspaper, she got very excited.
“I used to teach kindergarten in a Montessori school,” she said, as we turned a corner in her sparkling and pricey luxury sedan. “I really loved teaching.”
Of course I had to ask. Montessori trained teachers are in demand thanks to a strong movement of expensive Montessori private schools, so in theory could command a higher salary than the average elementary school teacher. So why did she leave teaching?
Well, she told me, her husband was a broker for housing loans — a one-man operation. He was doing well but working his brains out. Many of his friends were husband-and-wife operations — one partner sold homes while the other arranged the loans. The friends kept telling them how much more money they could be making if she became a realtor.
So finally, she took the plunge. She quit teaching to start selling homes. Business was good, she said. They were making much more money this way. But she really missed the kids, she said. Someday she hoped she might figure out a way to go back to teaching. But not while there was so much money to be made in real estate.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Categories: My Favorite Posts, Teaching and Learning
Comments
By teacher
December 2, 2006 1:14 PM | Link to this
I’ve been an English high school teacher for six years in the of the lowest paying districts in my county. I knew that I wouldn’t get paid very well when I decided to become a teacher; I’m fine with it. Fortunately, my husband makes a good living. However, I had no idea how horrid the working conditions would be. My friends who are in business stare at me in disbelief when I tell them that the heat in my classroom doesn’t work. My corporate friends stare at me in aghast when I tell them that I don’t have air conditioning. My business friends stare at me in shock when I tell them that my 1999 computer basically doesn’t work so I have to enter grades into the online gradebook (which is required to use!) at home. My friends with their cushy office jobs stare at me in disbelief when I tell them that the only time my schedule allows me to use the restroom is during my 25 minute lunch break (teachers are required to monitor halls in between classes - in the event of an emergency we break the rules). My friends stare at me in horror when I describe the howl of the wind blasting through the cracks of my classroom windows, creating a unbearable draft and a major sound distraction. My business world friends don’t understand how 150 teachers have access to only three copy machines, when usually one of those is out-of-service. My very well-compensated business friends didn’t believe me when I told them how many hours I spent planning prom, graduation, homecoming, pep rallies, all for $150 which equaled to about $.75/hour. My business friends can’t imagine being asked to go to professional development in another city without being reimbursed for milage, hotel room, and meals. My business friends laughed at me when I told them I was spending my weekend painting my own classroom because that’s the only way it’d get painted. My friends were baffled at the concept of teachers being required to get a masters degree without any tuition reimbursement - my masters degree cost me (well, actually my dad paid for it out of pity for me) $7,000/year, which was a fourth of my salary after taxes. My business world friends offered to help me when my English department copier code ran out of the alloted copies, so I had to spend my own money at Kinko’s (final the schoolrealized how ridiculous it was). These are my working conditions. My husband and my friends not only make a lot of money, but they also have crack-free windows, restroom & coffee breaks, tuition reimbursement (even when a degree beyond undergrad isn’t required), traveling expenses paid, air conditioning, heat (my custodian promises they will fix mine, just like they sort of did last year), and finally, computers AND printers that work - what a dream that would be!!!!!!! My district’s community doesn’t support their schools (which is why I personally live in a district that respects education). They haven’t passed a school levy since 1997. I don’t care about the lack of a raise! I just want a better learning environment for my students and a better working environment for myself. Such working conditions (which I blame on my school’s community for not supporting education) are the reason why I’d leave education. My school’s community doesn’t value education, has little or no respect for teachers, must not care about the future of their children and that just disgusts me.By Nettie
November 30, 2006 1:19 PM | Link to this
Ben, in a perfect world, merit-based pay would be possible, but you have to be in education to understand the pitfalls. When merit pay is mentioned, it is usually in the context of paying those whose students score the highest on the Ohio Achievement Tests. This is extremely dangerous, because you get into problems. For instance, the teacher of the lower math students, who tend not to pass, would be fired while the Algebra teacher, whose students are the higher half of the kids, gets more pay. That isn’t fair. Also, I teach eighth grade English. Do I get a free pass because my kids don’t take a test in eighth grade? Merit pay sounds good on the surface, but it’s a nightmare to institute. I would be fine with it if it were done in a way that didn’t involve unfair biases and test scores only.By Ben
November 29, 2006 5:23 PM | Link to this
Lou, your point is well-taken. In Colorado in 2005-06, the average teacher earned a per diem of $242.34 (this includes available sick & leave days). Someone earning that per diem on a 50-week, 5-day schedule would make $60,585. Not bad for a white-collar job with 10 years experience. And again, the pension plan is hard to beat. People can decide whether teachers are underpaid or not, but I think most people would agree that the teaching profession (and the students it serves) would be better off if teachers were really rewarded for merit or performance.By lou
November 29, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this
Ben, You may call a teacher a salary worker but teachers are not salary, they work perdeim. If I were a salary worker I could take 1 hr. off to go to the doctor and not be docked pay. I could be 1 hr. late and not be docked pay. If you work salary you do not get docked pay or overtime pay. I get docked but no overtime.By Nettie
November 29, 2006 9:46 AM | Link to this
Great, you need to read what I said again. I am not saying I am not a professional and am not begging to be called one. I am asking you to conduct yourself in a way that is becoming to our profession. Also, I resent you calling me a crybaby, because I am not one. I do not whine, cry, threaten to strike, or otherwise. I simply see sides to the opinion and choose to express myself without being so negative and judgemental. Perhaps you should try this, also. And, do you teach your students that if someone is slower, they can call them “stupid” because it’s the truth? Come on, Great, name calling is namecalling and you’re too proud to admit that you resorted to it.By Ben
November 28, 2006 4:09 PM | Link to this
To Barb, who made the point about not getting paid for hours worked beyond the minimum stated in the bargaining contract, are not teachers salaried employees? A better way to analyze comparatively is based on annual salary. Colorado is what I know best, so here goes: the average teacher in Colorado in 2005 earned $44,453, with about 10 years of experience. Most teachers operate under a contract in which they work 37 weeks a year. The NCES Schools & Staffing Survey (most recent = 2003-2004) said the average teacher reported working 52.8 hours a week, including all facets of the job. So multiplying 52.8 hours X 37 weeks = 1,953.6 hours per year. The average teacher in Colorado thus would have earned $22.75/hour, more than the following occupations in Colorado (according to the Dept of Labor): - Anthropologists - Dietitians - Drafters - Entertainers & performers - Executive secretaries - Funeral directors - Radio / TV announcers - Reporters - Surveyors About the same as: - Computer support specialists - Building inspectors - Editors And less than other white-collar occupations: - Financial specialists - Insurance agents - Interior designers - Market research analysts - Public relations specialists - Real estate brokers - Technical writers As a whole, these figures can provide some context to the debate of whether teachers are underpaid. Of course, the above figures are based strictly on base salaries. Teachers also tend to have a much better pension package than most white-collar workers. Nevertheless, the debate needs to focus more on HOW teachers are paid (e.g., rewarding good teachers). Food for thought…By Ben
November 28, 2006 3:41 PM | Link to this
An interesting and impassioned discussion here, but I can’t help but wonder why I didn’t see anyone bring up an important point: differential, or performance-based, pay. How many young teachers leave the profession because they see no opportunity to earn more except getting the same raise as everyone else for years of seniority? In my opinion, we should be talking about how to reward good teachers with more money, not just tossing more money into the pot and leaving the system of incentives the same. I am aware of the raging debate of how pay for performance is designed & what it rewards, but shouldn’t the whole conversation be moving in that direction? And what about enabling schools to offer more money to hire teachers for harder-to-fill positions & specialties? I have yet to find a good explanation for why the public education system should function better while immune from market incentives that work in every other area of our economic and social lives.By Great
November 28, 2006 10:16 AM | Link to this
I am not being negative. I just think teachers should stop complaining about the money they make. And I also think it is time for teachers to move forward rather than debate if they are appreciated. Really, who cares if one feels appreciated? And what name calling are you talking about - crybaby? spoiled? This is not name calling when it is the truth. Finally, don’t be worried about being a “professional.” Teachers are professionals, but everytime you screm to be called as such is the same time when people stop calling you a professional. Act like you have been there before…..By Nettie
November 27, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this
Great, It both bothers and scares me that you are educating children with such a sweeping, negative outlook. Can you not find a way to express yourself from a standpoint that does not involve name-calling, stereotyping, and a chain of near-expletives? No matter what your opinion is, please try to express it in an intelligent way that positively reflects the intellectual side of OUR profession. Perhaps things like this are why we are not considered professionals.By Great
November 25, 2006 6:22 PM | Link to this
I am sorry if everyone is not getting a pay raise and a pat on the back. I somehow got it in my head that the salaries of teachers were sort of know, and if you feel you need to earn more either move to another district or get another profession altogether. Just b/c someone feels they are UNDER VALUED does not mean are under valued. Scott - you write for the DDN - since you do such a great job, do you feel under valued? Under paid? If so, ASK for a pay raise, if you don’t get this pay raise it is most likely b/c you have not earned a pay raise. These teachers remind me of my good friend who has 3 degrees and 2 masters, sitting at home B & M b/c no one will pay him what he is worth. I just don’t get it. The field you are in, no matter what profession, usually has a CAP, so you move UP or move OUT - or start your own thing and keep all the money for yourself. Somehow at the age of NINE I found out what a teacher makes and decided still to become one….. I won’t/can’t complain about $$ b/c I already knew this - and for being under valued, well I checked my ego at the door and grew up and accepted many people don’t care about me - oh well, I will get over it!By Scott Elliott
November 23, 2006 11:05 PM | Link to this
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Great. I have one question for you on your last comment. If all teachers took your advice, who would be left to teach your kids to read and do math? Who would inspire them to greatness? Your generalizations are really out of control. There are good and bad workers in all professions. There are competent and incompetent people in every walk of life. There are complainers and go getters, whether it’s a room full of doctors or a room full of garbage collectors. I have met many highly motivated, hard working, inspiring teachers who are content in their life choices but still believe they are undervalued. You know what? I know highly motivated, hard working, inspiring engineers, doctors and lawyers who believe they are undervalued and, yes, some of them also think they are underpaid. Can you really not see why the teachers here find your comments so insulting?By keith
November 23, 2006 10:14 PM | Link to this
Tonya: don’t allow anyone to yell at you be they parent or student or administrator. That continues the addiction to blaming the poor teacher for everything that’s wrong in Dayton Public. And you perpetuate the problem from 50 and more years ago where teachers were mostly female and mostly had husbands who made money and teaching was just a side job for the family and therefore female teachers could be paid less than they were worth. Many still have that mentality today including one poster in this blog. Mary: you need to check the pay scales for beginning teachers again. And you say you spent time in the classroom; middle school, Dayton Pubic? Or some part time teaching an evening college class to willing students who were paying their way and wanted to learn? When someone talks about “I have taught so I know already” I cringe having heard that from nonperformers too many times; then the real story of their “teaching” background comes out explaining their inability.By Great
November 23, 2006 9:05 AM | Link to this
Whatever….sore losers. You notice that these bleeding heart liberals always bring up CEO and athletics rather than mention the over paid entertainers from film, tv and music. You earn what people pay you….. soooooo, if they give you a pay raise, you must have earned it. But if it is tooooooooooo much you b***h and moan. I am sure a bunch of people get together and figuare out how they can over pay someone. Honestly, after reading this blog, I have come to the conclusion that most if not all teachers are a bunch a cry babies. GO INTO A PROFESSION THAT PAYS MORE —- GET OVER THEY PAY THING — THEY TOLD ME IN 3RD GRADE WHAT TEACHERS EARN AND I SOMEHOW UNDERSTOOD THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNG. This is what America is, if you have a nice face, invent the pop top, play music well, whatever, you may EARN a lot of money, you may not. You are the same PEOPLE contributing to this. You shop at stores where CEO’s make too much, you buy thing from companies who make too much ———- THE PUBLIC IS THE PROBLEM, hence YOU! Happy Thanksgiving, get a grip on life, and enjoy low pay - b/c I am a teacher too and I don’t make a lot of money but somehow I understood this in 3rd grade.By Mary
November 22, 2006 2:50 PM | Link to this
“Great”, I agree with many of your points, but CEO pay and using tax dollars intended for education to subsidize athletics has got completely out of hand. I read the business and other sections of the papers also, and believe me, others have been admitting for a long time that we have a problem. Fighting greed, corruption, and mismanagement running rampant in capitalism and our government does not make one a socialist, whatever that really is. Do you really think the CEO recently retiring from a health care conglomerate deserves a $1.1 billion retirement package? That’s not retirement or capitalism, that is grand theft. These arrangements drive up the costs of consumer goods and services for everyone. I am not talking about simply using the freed up money for pay raises for teachers and others. Many economists say it is a problem. Barb, I have spent time in the classroom.By Oldprof
November 22, 2006 9:08 AM | Link to this
Great needs to take a look at what pay and working conditions are enjoyed by teachers in those other nations where students keep outscoring ours. Japan, for example, where teachers are limited to no more than four hours per day in the classroom and are paid more decently compared to other highly-qualified professions. In the end, Great, would you want to hire the lowest-cost attorney in town to defend you in court, or the cheapest carpenter you can find to fix your home? You get what you pay for, and if you enjoy the cheapskate lifestyle, fine. Perhaps you can open your eyes to the notion that children have no choice about what quality of education our nation affords them. And BTW, there’s nothing socialist about that position, it’s good old market-driven economics. Quit name-calling.By Tonya
November 22, 2006 1:50 AM | Link to this
When I decided to become a teacher, I knew that I would not become rich. This wasn’t a problem. I didn’t realize how teaching would take over my life. I spend my money on copy paper, lined paper, pencils, and pens. I am still paying college loans (and will be for a long time). I regularly get yelled at by both students and parents. I have the administration constantly asking me to accomplish more and more with less and less materials. I purchase my own books, workbooks, and pay for yearly fees to education websites. My job is extremely stressful—I’m constantly called on to be a nurse, social worker, substitute parent, and security guard—and I still have to teach. Many people incorrectly think that Dayton teachers must be poor teachers because of their students’ output. Dayton has a very dedicated group of teachers who work very hard at their job. We stay for athletic events and concerts, tutor after school, have meetings after shool—and we don’t get paid for any of this. Keep in mind, I’m not “required” to do everything that I do. I volunteer to spend my own money and to spend my unpaid time because my students are important to me. I wish that the public would show more support for their schools. We need smaller class sizes, we need materials for our classrooms, and we need to increase the pay scale for teachers—to show how important teachers are for this country. Until that happens, I will continue to spend my own money, work way after the close of school, and spend my summers taking classes (with my own money), working extra jobs, and planning for the next year. Either that, or I will get burned out and go back to my better paying, lower stress corporate job.By Barb
November 21, 2006 7:01 PM | Link to this
Mary still does not get it. We are not paid for summers or vacations. We are paid for 185 days a year and then a couple of training days. We are paid for a minimum of 7.25 hours in Dayton and anything above that is our own time. We have deadlines to meet, grades to do but we have to do them on our own time. I don’t think you hear that many people complaining about the money but we would like to be appreciated for what we do. We do not have paid vacation time and how many jobs have to buy their own supplies. Do CEO’s buy their employees pens, pencils out of their money? We do. If my building is out of paper I buy my own. Mary please join me at school for a few days since you are retired and you might have a new appreciation for what teachers do and do because they truly care for the students. Nettie very well put.By lou
November 21, 2006 6:44 PM | Link to this
This is about why teachers leave the profession. Stick to the subject. If you are not a teacher, married to a teacher, or know a teacher quite well, you really have no voice in this blog.By Great
November 21, 2006 4:24 PM | Link to this
Teachers may be underpaid, however everyone should have some knowledge of this BEFORE they become a teacher. When it comes down to it, American society has just become a “keep up with the Jones” way of life for too many people. Everyone, including teachers, WANT luxuary cars, fansy meals and lavish vacations, however most don’t want to work for these things. I think everyone should just grow up, spend less and enjoy life here in the Great USA. It has gotten to the point of way too much complaining over money and luxary items - seriosly, why do you think we have enemies. It is becasue our biggest problems are how big someone else’s house is and not something more important. You make too much, you make too little…….whatever. Don’t be so stupid to believe that if we pay CEO less, Athletes less or anyone else less that YOU, a teacher, or you, a carpenter, or you, a lawyer, will be paid more. If you don’t “GET” this then you most likely are a teacher - and socialist.By Mary
November 21, 2006 3:41 PM | Link to this
Nettie, I never said you did not work hard. I do not believe I know you or your work habits and dedication. A lot of people work hard, including me, even though I am retired. I try to avoid sweeping genralizations about pay, by trying to get the details on teacher pay instead of simply taking the “all teachers are underpaid” as face value. It appears that in many of the districts around here, beginning teacher salaries are in the $30,000 range and average teacher salaries are in the $55,000 range. Health care and retirement benefits appear to be generous. The time off, to most professionals, would be extremely generous - not that some teachers do use a significant part of that time to prepare. But I’ll bet many do not. Is that being underpaid? I think that is good for discussion and debate.By Nettie
November 21, 2006 1:03 PM | Link to this
I have been teaching for seven years, and as a graduate of a local college, I frequently run into fellow classmates who became teachers when I did. I know for a fact that a lot of them are no longer teaching, and I find it sad. They wanted to build children’s futures like I did, but for an array of reasons, they gave up that dream. I’ve heard that it was about money, about lack of support, about not realizing the demand, etc. What’s the one thing I’ve never heard? “I can’t stand the kids.” Maybe it’s just a case of an ill-suited career choice; it happens. However, when I read such negativity, it strikes me that it may be part of the problem. I have a very thick skin. I was the first person in my family to earn a Master’s degree, and no one even sent a card, seemingly because a Masters of Education is not as cool or tough as an MBA. So, no one gave me much credit for my degree. That’s okay; I know how hard I worked and how much I learned that is currently put to use helping children become better learners. However, others need someone to appreciate these accomplishments, and most of the time, you just don’t get that credit when you teach. When I get to work, I hit the floor running. My day does not stop. I have at least twenty children (my clients) an hour, and they all have different demands, needs, and wants (if I have time to get to wants). I’m not complaining; I would be bored with any other job. That’s just my day. I never just get to sit quietly at my desk and catch up on paperwork like my stockbroker husband is doing right now. If I am sick, I can’t just make it through the day, because 120 students expect my best every day. When I was pregnant, I taught with a trashcan next to me to survive seven months of morning, noon, and night sickness. The kids counted how many times I ran from the room, called for someone to cover the class, and then returned a few minutes later to teach the remainder of the lesson. I’m not saying this for sympathy. I’m saying it for people like Mary who don’t think I work hard. I do work hard, and I do everything I can to do my job to the best of my ability every day. Perhaps the most striking thing about this whole argument is that it even takes place. I’m trying to think of a time when I lumped a whole profession together, made drastic, sweeping remarks about them, and publicly said they don’t do what they need to do and don’t deserve just compensation. Also, maybe this is so hot because our raises are publicly challenged. No one gets to know the raises of anyone in the private sector. Why do unrelated people feel the need to pass so many judgements? I guess my greatest hope for my future is that I can help students, teach them to make respectful judgements (obviously some adults are incapable of this), and hope that they can change the world and look at the world and my profession in a more positive light. Also, hopefully someone will find a way to keep good people, and good teachers, seeing the positives of teaching. I sure hope that not many of our rookies are reading the comments on this blog.By null
November 21, 2006 9:17 AM | Link to this
My wife and I are both teachers. My wife is a teacher at the Intermediate Building. I teach in a neighboring district. We spend hours and hours outside of our normal workday creating and perfecting the perfect lesson plans for our students. We could very well be making a lot more money in some other field. We enjoy what we do and that makes it easier. I think that a teacher could build a decent life off of their salary, but not working all year long is a barrier. You have to find a summer job, you usually will not make the same amount of money. My wife and I have built a good life off of 2 teacher salaries. We have found the need to work other part jobs to help supplement our income, so I could understand young single teachers needing to leave the profession to find better paying jobs.By Teacher
November 20, 2006 8:50 PM | Link to this
I have been teaching for 9 years and there was a time when I was ready to leave. I have no problem with my income. I knew that I was not going to be rich when I became a teacher. The issue for me was lack of support from the school district, administrators, parents and fellow teachers. There were expectations set in the buildings and no one was available to help or mentor. Another problem was lack of morale in the building. I am glad I made the decision to stay. I would have missed all the wonderful things that happen in my classroom and now in my school had I left when I was close to the 5 year mark.By lou
November 20, 2006 4:18 PM | Link to this
Scott, I am not sure I can tell you why teachers leave the profession. I can tell you why I stay. My Mother and Grandmother were both teachers. I swore that I would never become a teacher. I watched them work all hours of the night grading papers. I watched them spend their nights and summer in class. I listened to them calling parents all night. My Father was an engineer. He came home, took a nap, traveled the world, and had is nights for us. My father is the one that took us to the Dr., came to our school shows, because you know a teacher can not just leave their job and come back to it. My mother made nothing for the work she did. Teachers starting today make more than she did at retiring, 33 years of service. I wanted to do something that counted in life. I was going to be the DR. of the family, if not at least the chemical engineer. Science was always my thing. I really tried those money careers, but I never felt whole inside. I coached youth sports for years and one day my mom said that if I really wanted to make a difference in a childs life, teacher. Of course I laughed. Then I truely looked at what she was saying. I am a teacher now and it is right for me. No I don’t make the big bucks, yes it feels like I have more bad days in the classroom than good days. Yes I feel disrespected at times. But the look on the child’s face when he/she has accomplished something they never felt they could, or when they graduate and never thought they would, or just a thanks for being here everyday is worth all the money in the world. That is why I am a teacher. I guess for others that is not enough.By Mary
November 20, 2006 3:00 PM | Link to this
So Scott, the way I am reading the stats, the vast majority of employees, not just teachers , feel underpaid. The lady realtor driving a fancy car misses teaching but likes money more and her husband was working too hard. So what is the moral of this story - money does not buy happiness, or quality of life, and “time is your most valuable coin. Do not let someone else spend it for you.” (credit Robert Frost?) Also, if we pay teachers more, we will just have to work harder to pay all the taxes. Maybe we all need to reassess the system and chip away at the really outlandish pay packages for CEOs and college football coaches and do away with the tax exempt status of the NCAA. Then maybe we could afford to pay teachers and not work so hard. I wonder what our soldiers in Iraq think about their pay package in comparison.