Ideal teacher salaries

Many have said teachers don't get paid enough. Tey do have a college degree. But one thing you also have to consider is that teachers don't work the entire year. What do you guys think? Do teachers get paid enough? And what is your ideal teacher salary?

[mranderson]

First tier should be $32,000 a year with a small increase each year, and a new level every five years with a 20 year cap of $60,000 a year. Prorate for a nine month contract.

[Midtowner]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Many have said teachers don't get paid enough. Tey do have a college degree. But one thing you also have to consider is that teachers don't work the entire year. What do you guys think? Do teachers get paid enough? And what is your ideal teacher salary?

I don't know how much they should be paid. However, the statement about teachers not working the entire year is often complete B.S. While not in the classroom, preparation is year-long. My girlfriend is a band director, and we spent countless hours preparing her band room for the year last summer, and I expect to be there again. My mother is a foriegn language teacher (has a Master's in French Literature and is National Board Certified), and she spends many hours every night grading papers, not to mention extensive remodeling and planning work each summer.

I'd say what you actually see teachers do in the classroom is maybe 40% of what their job entails.

Also, in most of our jobs (thank God) we don't have to deal with bratty kids that think they know everything (unless that bratty kid is me, and you're a mod of OKCTalk).

Maybe our legislators could pay our teachers more instead of funnelling contributions to their campaigns from the state coffers?

[Underling]

I'm with you, Midtowner.

Spent a contract school year teaching in Oklahoma City. My hours were pretty much 6:00 am to 10:00 pm Mon-Fri, and many hours spread out over Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to having next to no resources for creative planning, if you want to do a project in the classroom that involves anything more involved than butcher paper and magic markers, it's coming out of your own pocket.

Most teachers work near round the clock hours from August to May and then still have to work during their "vacation" in June and July. Not only did I live it as a teacher, I was raised by a teacher.

Now, are there teachers out there that don't give 100% and perhaps aren't worth their entire salary? Yes, but that's true of every profession.

Teachers serve a vital function in our society. They deserve to be rewarded and compensated appropriately.

I'm not opposed in any way to increasing teacher salaries. I'd say they at least need to be $40,000 a year minimum, for the work they put in. But, unfortunately, teachers as a whole are underpaid at all levels, including the collegiate level.

[sweetdaisy]

Teachers in Oklahoma are GROSSLY underpaid and it's shameful. I cannot believe these dedicated men and women are expected to live on the pittance doled out to them.

As Underling and Midtowner have said, the stuff about teachers working only 9 months of the year is totally wrong. My mom is a teacher (for 30 years), has a master's degree, and loves her job. However, she does not make NEARLY enough to own a home, etc.

$35 - $40K is a good starting point.

And Mr. A, what's the logic behind the cap of $60K? Kind of curious on this one...