So, they go on to explain that teachers’ SAT and GRE scores are lower than the data supports for their pay scale, that more teachers than positions are graduating every year looking for jobs (supporting the fact that so many people want to get into the profession, obviously because of the pay) and that the turnover rate is not any worse than “similar professions”. They talked about how the “emotional reaction” to the issue is no way to scientifically look at whether a person is worth their pay scale and that they based their findings on the teacher reported number of hours worked, not just the contract.

And, they state that “current compensation” is “50 percent above market rate”, something that hasn’t improved the standards of education! Shocking!

Their recommendations? Start with pension reform! Teachers have a pension plan that is obviously too good for them. Second, let’s have “deep structural reform of the teacher-compensation system.”

Yes. Lets.

Let’s start thinking about what a teacher does in comparison to other workforces who get paid similar or less than they do.

Bankers – bankers get paid less, at least those below the VP/president level or those who have been there for the past 30 years. Bankers care for our money, provide loans allowing us to live beyond our means, buy houses and cars we can’t afford and extend lines of credit so we can have all the material goods we could possibly want.

Fast food workers/restaurant workers. Some might be paid more, top chefs in fancy pancy restaurants might be paid equal to teachers, maybe more. Ironic that teachers can’t afford to eat at those top restaurants (oh wait, administration can – superintendant’s all over the place could eat wherever they wanted whenever they wanted, if only they lived in a smaller Mc Mansion…) But that’s besides the point – Obviously the impact that food service workers have on the world is worth that of the impact teachers have on the world…

Store managers make approximately what teachers make. Yes! There you go – the ability to manage the store floor, work a customer over and close a sale. Because a new anything is worth the same in the long run as a 3^rd grader learning how to read fluently and comprehend what he is reading.

Here’s the thing – are you really willing to admit that the education of every child in America is worth only the basic comparable “skill set” that these other professions provide? I have never spoken to a single teacher who entered the work force because of the money. Honestly, if the job was more respected and work environment improved, I bet the argument that teachers are underpaid would go away! Teachers teach because they love kids. Ok, so cooks do what they do because they love food. But teachers want to make a difference in the world that food at a nice restaurant cannot touch.

What are teachers worth to you? I’m not saying teachers need to be paid more, but I am saying the pay scale is messed up – and upside down. The uppity people in the school board need to trade salaries with those doing the dirty work. It’s also time that people stop looking at teachers as babysitters who simply play with and color with children all day. So IQ may not be super high and SAT scores might be among the lowest professional jobs available. Is that where the value of a teacher comes in? I thought the value was in the molding and education of a future president. The education of future nobel prize winners. The shapers of the very future of our existence. THAT is why more teachers enter the field than there are positions – because teaching is one of the only fields where they actually work on sacred ground.

THAT can’t be quantified by data.

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There are several dates to choose from and visit the Capitol, the Governor’s Palace and the art museums. You will get to see a variety of traditional trade shops such as the blacksmith, silversmith and the apothecary. Tour Great Hopes Plantation and more! What a great way to bring history alive for all ages.

For more information and to register, visit Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Open House Day

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So now we stop to appreciate our teachers. Let’s look at what we’ve done to teachers in the past few years: Teachers are having to find second jobs to pay the bills; the best teachers looking for new jobs. Some districts are questioning whether 12th grade is a necessity, while a the same time looking at trying to educate 3 year olds. Test scores are now the only thing that matters and teachers no longer promote honesty and integrity as filling in the bubble on a scan-tron, even when the answer is not known, is of a higher priority. (I am a Bad Teacher, by Valarie Strauss)

Here are some questions I have about the whole situation:

1. How many administrators eat out each week? (because we can’t afford to on a teacher’s salary after pay cuts and mandatory raises in our pension contribution…)

2. How many government budget makers are struggling to pay for health insurance? (because many teachers have to pay this by themselves now, something that is quite difficult unless a spouse has another career that pays well)

3. How may students can you physically stuff into a single room and expect to learn?

4. How will eliminating 12th grade help colleges who already complain about having to provide remedial support for incoming freshmen?

5. How will bringing in students 1-2 years sooner (3 and 4 years-old) improve a system that can’t figure out how to educate them starting at age 5?

6. How does cutting pay for teachers solve anything? (unless you really want fewer teachers in the school systems, then that will help)

My prediction – at least 2 more years of worsening before it begins to hold steady. In that amount of time, who knows how many teachers will be left? The fact of the matter is that we need good veteran teachers to mentor and help train up the new teaches entering the field. Without the veteran teachers, new teachers will have a bigger steeper learning curve.

Arne Duncan makes bold claims: “I hear you, I value you, and I respect you.” A statement that is hard to swallow when teachers feel their cries fall on deaf ears, find that their value now lies in the accuracy of student’s ability to fill out a scan-tron sheet and respect for their job lies in a dwindling paycheck that doesn’t cover all the bills anymore.

Budget makers – your values are showing through as you continue to cut back education funding. Where will it stop? When will the education of the next generation be a priority? Cut out the rhetoric, talk means nothing. Put yourself in a classroom and find out what teachers do every day. Stop asking teachers to get kids to pass a test while pulling the rug out from under them at the same time.

Or are we going to start offering free and reduced lunches to teachers as well as the kids?

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day

Related posts:

1. New Study for Autism
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To thank the world’s teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 3-7, we’re opening up all
six of our PreK-6 Learning A-Z websites — for free. Sites include Reading A-Z, Raz-Kids, Writing
 A-Z, Science A-Z, Vocabulary A-Z, and Reading-Tutors. Nearly 50,000 teachers took advantage of
our Open House last year and pre-registration for this year is now open. Just go to
 http://www.learninga-z.com/openhouse — and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues!

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Seeing a Child Finally Understand a New Concept:

One teacher had trouble putting it into words and yet described it so well: “The light bulb! That pride you feel when you know that your kids finally get it! Or that one child that could not get it before, when he or she finally does. That’s the best part.”

Another teacher put it like this: “The kids faces when they light up from that AHA! moment is sweet bliss. I love to hear them say, “Oh, I get it!” or “This is so easy now!” or even, “I love this math!” That one bright smile makes it all seem worth it.”

Making a Difference in the Life of a Child:

Another common theme among the responses I received for what was the best part of being a teacher, was the knowledge that they were making a difference. This one is interesting to me, because there is no measure by which these teachers decided whether they were making a difference in the life of a child. Instead, it was just the knowledge that they were making a difference that made teaching worth while.

Does teaching provide proof of making a difference in the life of a child? Or does the knowledge that a good teacher can touch the life of a child provide incentive enough for you?

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1. Lesson planning is important.

In fact, lesson planning is so important it will effect classroom management, student achievement and teacher effectiveness. Learn how to plan a lesson from start to finish: Lesson Planning Tips

2. Having a thorough classroom management plan is vital.

Many teacher preparation programs train new teachers to avoid discipline issues though proactive management – walking around the classroom, high interest lessons, caring about students and so on. The actuality of teaching, though, is not quite so idealistic. In fact, classroom management is often one of the top most difficulties that teachers face. Learning how to manage a classroom full of students starts with a well thought through classroom management plan. Learn all you need to know about classroom management: My Classroom Management

3. Love each student where he or she is.

A college professor once told me that the student who drives you the most nuts is the student who needs you the most. Indeed, in today’s society, parents are leaving more and more up to the teachers and this results in students who need love, attention, respect, boundaries and simply someone to care about who they really are – faults and all. Remember when students continue to act up that very often they are simply being children and while we need to teach them how to act and interact with others, we need to also love them as they are.

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Take advantage of this great opportunity and register now!

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