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Hey, Teachers, Do You Make Enough Money?

March 7, 2008 In the past, when I was young and naïve, I never understood why teachers complained about their salaries. 

Who were they to complain? 

They work half the year - have summers off - all the holidays - sick days - test days - 1/2 days. The list goes on and on and on. Then I entered this wonderful profession and realized how wrong I was. Whether WE, are in class, on the beach, or driving home -- WE TEACHERS ARE ALWAYS working. Hence, I was overjoyed when I STARTED to read Elissa Gootman's New York Times article, At Charter School, Higher Pay.  Gootman writes, "Would six-figure salaries attract better teachers? A New York City charter school set to open in 2009 in Washington Heights will test one of the most fundamental questions in education: Whether significantly higher pay for teachers is the key to improving schools." Sounds good to me - but there's one catc - buried. Say bye, bye to those days off.

Then I saw this.

"In exchange for their high salaries, teachers at the new school, the Equity Project, will work a longer day and year and assume responsibilities that usually fall to other staff members, like attendance coordinators and discipline deans. To make ends meet, the school, which will use only public money and charter school grants for all but its building, will scrimp elsewhere." It's almost like their saying, "Don't get too excited about the increase because we're going work your cacoons off." 

My question is -- is there a subliminal message here, that we teachers don't work enough time - or hours - in order to make more money? Or let me rephrase it, are teachers worthy of making more without working more? 

Let me know your thoughts.

NOTE ***The comment section will NOT be active until 
probably Sunday - School Library Journal.com  is servicing the site. This gives you LOADS of time to think on this and come back with some solid arguments. Just be nice to me, please.***   
 

Posted by Amy Bowllan on March 7, 2008 | Comments (5)


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March 10, 2008
In response to: Hey, Teachers, Do You Make Enough Money?
Kakie commented:

Every teacher I have ever known has brought work home to correct in their evenings, while trying to balance their own personal lives. They also receive phone calls from concerned parents.

Yes, teachers are worthy of making more without working more. They are selfless and give us something no one can ever take away - education. I think that is pretty priceless.





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