Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!
Posted by Mark on 6/17/09

On 6/17/09, job-seeker wrote:
> Since teachers have been unionized, they have a pretty
> good situation. Benefits, pension, tenure, union lawyers,
> paid training, long vacations...As for salaries, in my
> state (new hampshire....a rural state) the average salary
> is $50,000.

All this largely depends on state, which largely relates to
the unionization you mentioned. The geographic areas that
were always suffering the "teacher shortage" did so because
they paid poorly and had generally poor treatment of teachers.
Had they paid better, they would have good teachers and a
stable supply of them. While New Hampshire might be a "rural
state," its also in New England with pro union laws and
generally well-funded schools. The teachers in the "rural"
states of the South and Great Plains, with limited unions and
limited value on education, have much different experiences
and they're the ones who fuel the "underpaid" teacher myth.

> To become a teacher, you only need a bachelors in
> education. This is why the job market is flooded with
> teachers and it is no longer easy to find teaching
> positions.

Teachers have always only needed a bachelor's degree to start,
but the market is flooded because other fields have
disappeared. Not too long ago, being an Engineer was a good
job, but now there are a lot of unemployed engineers because
the jobs have gone to India and China. Yeah, the job market
is tough everywhere right now, because of the economy, but the
number of good, middle-class professions are shrinking as we
outsource.

> Getting a teachers contract in a public school is VERY
> desirable, not what it used to be! Any thoughts?

Again, if you're in a good state, that's true, but I really
think we're seeing the upswing in education graduates because
other fields are shrinking in the US. Still, I've never
thought I was underpaid as a teacher. Yeah, I always wanted
more, but I thought I made fair money, great benefits and time
off, and I like kids and my job.

Posts on this thread, including this one

• "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by job-seeker.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by Elena.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by pixie.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by Marina.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by WEK.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by SpecEd Teacher.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by Mark.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/17/09, by Mark.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/18/09, by job seeker.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/18/09, by NC teacher.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/18/09, by mark.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/19/09, by Marina.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/19/09, by NC teacher.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/19/09, by kate.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/19/09, by mark.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/20/09, by julia.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 6/20/09, by Catsister.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/01/09, by mel.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/14/09, by teaching in PA.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/14/09, by Compared to what?.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/14/09, by mark.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/14/09, by anon.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/14/09, by sped.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/15/09, by PA Teacher.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/16/09, by sped.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/20/09, by maybe I'm bitter.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/20/09, by deal with it.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/21/09, by Sympathetic.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/21/09, by deal with it.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/21/09, by sped.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/21/09, by maybe I'm bitter.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/21/09, by sped.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by No one gets a "contract" here.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by Pa Teacher.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by Joe.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by let me clarify.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by Not as easy in ALL states.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by Elena.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by let me clarify once again.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/22/09, by Oh New York.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/23/09, by Joe.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/23/09, by Clarification.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/23/09, by Elena.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/23/09, by don't like tests.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/23/09, by NBCTer.
• Re: "the myth of underpaid teachers" no longer true!, 7/23/09, by Clarification.