Do You Think Teachers are Paid Enough?

Now I tend to think that the education that my daughter is getting is better than what I got. However, I think that part of it could have to do with the fact that she goes to a school that gets more government funding based on the population of students that are lower income. However, I still don't feel that the teachers are paid enough.

You can say that again. Sometimes I get to think if I am just a millionaire I will be the one to add up to the salaries of the teachers of my children too. and here in our country the president would still want to cut down on the education's budget. My gosh what's left for our future in that case? All good teachers will be flying abroad, there will be no one left here to teach for the children who will be left behind. That is why for us parents we also have to be proactive in giving our children education because we do not know the quality of education they have now in school. I can't blame the teachers too. Very sad right?

I do think that the participation of parents is important in a child's education, but there are some things that I really don't think I can handle myself.

I think people often misunderstand how revenue comes into a school district, and often that is the cause for panic when someone mentions a possible increase in "Property Tax". The following link is to the budget of the high school in the city which I reside. As you can see the total property tax itself isn't enough to pay more than one teacher, and we all know that there is more than one teacher in a high school. I would suggest that people pull up such budgets in the school district they live in order to see that their revenue does not all come from property tax. It's very small actually (when you compare it to the number of people who reside in that town). http://www.shakopee.k12.mn.us/school430/FCK/File/District/2010%20Revenue%20Detail.pdf Personally, I agree that we need a better system. We need to copy Norway's system and enter the future. Namaste-Anora

Teacher's aren't really federal employees, but their pay is somewhat subsidized by the federal government. However, in our state, a large part of the education budget comes from the revenue of our lottery. I know that a portion of the education budget in an adjoining state comes from their casino gambling. In fact, when we go to the casino in the other state we joke around that we are paying for the education of their children. So, as you can see, the pay for teachers isn't all from our taxes.

I tend to think that if teachers were a little bit better paid then there would be more good teachers. I've seen that there are some wonderful teachers and others that are not so good and that really is a frustrating thing.

What most people don't tend to understand is that a teacher's work doesn't end at home. They also have to take home work with them and because of the fact that at least here, teachers are salaried, when you break down what they are making per hour it really is a pitiance.

Here teachers aren't really paid all that well. However, I have faith that it could change in the future. Teachers deserve more than what they are getting in terms of both salary and respect.

I agree with you. I also feel like teachers really need to get a lot more credit than they are receiving right now.

I too have a lot of respect for teachers. It is, actually, because of the respect that I have for teachers that I too would like to enter the field someday after my son starts school and I can finish my education.

I agree with you, I see so many teachers that are struggling and I know that they love their jobs but they have to take a second job just to keep food on their tables and that is very sad to me.

I too had some great teachers and some that weren't so great. However, it was the great teachers that were really the ones that made an impact on me. Now that I have a child in school, I've seen nothing but good teachers for her. I only hope that through the rest of her schooling I will see the same thing.

I wish that I did know the reason because I think without teachers there really wouldn't be any kind of a future.

You know, Katsmeow, you really hit the nail on the head. Indeed, most professions are OVERpaid. How much money does each of those professions actually warrant? Surely not what they're actually getting paid. Yet....that's grist for an entirely different discussion. lol.

I don't know that the government will be reading the discussion, but I think you might really be on to something that the other professions are being overpaid.

No let's not bring the government into this! Obama is all for nationalising Health Care, which would mean doctors make about as much as teachers.. but then our taxes would sky rocket and our wait times at the ER would triple! Also I don't believe in socialism. Which we're getting dangerously close to discussing here by saying doctors and lawyers should earn the same amount as teachers. Honestly... okay, lawyers are fine, because they're paid based on the work they do and the clients they represent. There are cheap lawyers, and expensive lawyers. When you hire a lawyer you get what you pay for... nothing wrong with that. Doctors are a bigger problem because their fees are coming out of our pockets and we don't have much of an option. Our options are go to an expensive hospital or a cheap clinic.. but depending on your needs that's not always an option either, clinics don't do surgeries.. and we can't opt not to pay for that $1,000 box of tissues we don't even use! I don't know what the solution is.. but I know National Health Care is not the solution, and neither is socialism. If there's other options I can't think of them... and as Veromar said, that's for an entirely different discussion.

That is right, I do think, however, that there are some people that go into teaching for a general love of teaching. In fact, it is the love of children and of teaching my own children that has shown me that I would like to eventually go into the teaching field.

We were so proud when we got our first student into college.

I imagine that you were, that really is a great accomplisment.

That sounds like it would be very difficult and frustrating. However, it is also good to see that there are/were teachers that were willing to give that extra time to help students that were struggling.

Though it is difficult for people to have the perfect life. I'm speaking from the fact that I know a lot of teachers that have to take on second jobs just to pay their mortgage and have food on the table. A teacher's job demands a lot from them both in the classroom and outside the classroom and that is the main reason that I think they deserve more pay.

Teachers in our country being underpaid? Their salaries have been better since years ago. The unfortunate thing was that they wanted more for less work. That was the impression that I got when I was a teacher. The teachers in our country are relatively better off than teachers from one or two neighbouring countries. Among the proofs are the majority are able to own homes, big vehicles, send their kids to private tutors, and have holidays in different parts of the country or even the world. Present day teachers in our country should be grateful for what they are receiving now, and prove that they are worth the money spent on them.

I am just a new teacher here in the Philippines. When I was in the private school , I can say that I was really underpaid. My salary is not enough even for me alone. I work so hard yet my work doesn't equal what the owner of the school pay. My aunt who is a teacher told me to apply in a public school. She said it is really hard to be a teacher. Being a teacher in private school and public school is just the same. However, the advantage of being a teacher in public school is that there are lots of benefits and my salary is double on what I used to get on the private school.Yes, I agree that public school teachers get an increase on their salary yearly.Well, for me, my salary is ok. Maybe I say this because I am single and don't have much expenses compare with teachers who already have their own family. I think, for them, their salaries is not yet enough. Maybe, this is case to case basis.

It is good to hear that there are cases where teachers are being paid fairly. I know where I live this really isn't the case. Though I would like to be a teacher someday (if I ever get to go back to school) it isn't because of the money that I want to do it, but rather the love of children and the desire to educate.

Wow, it is even worse than being underpaid that their pay is sometimes delayed. I would like to know that our teachers are paid on time every time.

It is really good to know that there are some places where teachers are fairly paid.

You see, over the past several years I've come to learn that I genuinely love children and that is why I am planning on getting a degree in education when my son starts school. I know that I won't get rich, but I will be fulfilled in what I am doing with my life. That said, I think that teachers should be better compensated.

I think that there are probably other ways that money can come into education besides from the government alone. However, it would take a lot of work to make that possible. Though my daughter does go to a public school, I honestly wouldn't be opposed to paying something to ensure that the education that she receives is superior.

You are exactly right. Without teachers, we really have nothing, and yet all of the professions that you've mentioned are better compensated than a teacher in my community is.