10 States Where Teachers Are Paid The Worst

[oldno7]

LOL! Ya im going to delete the bottom third trying to change subjects to discuss the real villains, not teachers.

Teachers are definitely not villains, nor are they victims.

[Kent K25]

When do I get this $47k salary you are all speaking of?

Last I checked I was pulling $31k.

[Deathcricket]

Edit: too much personal info in here and I ranted, lol... Ignore this post.

[mattandersao]

When do I get this $47k salary you are all speaking of?

Last I checked I was pulling $31k.

Kent- Touche! Starting salaries are rough! Give it a couple years, take advantage of the summer professional development classes that are offered and you can move up the pay scale and someday perhaps you will achieve the dream of 47k!

[JP]

#4 Utah (C-)

Are these Union shops?

[oldno7]

Are these Union shops?

I'm sure I'll rapidly be corrected here if I'm wrong, but I believe all public school teachers are represented by the teachers union.
I would go out on a limb here and also state, private school teachers are likely not union.

[oldno7]

When do I get this $47k salary you are all speaking of?

Last I checked I was pulling $31k.

I don't know anything about you Kent, is there a reason you might be entitled to $47,000?
Just askin'

[Kent K25]

I don't know anything about you Kent, is there a reason you might be entitled to $47,000?
Just askin'

Nope, just having a little fun. I'm only in my 3rd year and at the bottom of the pay scale. I can take classes to move up the pay scale etc, but am currently taking classes to finish off my endorsement and these classes don't count towards moving up. I got my degree in Mechanical Engineering so I was given a list of 11 classes and 2 tests to take to get my endorsement since my degree wasn't in education. I have a 3 year window to take these classes. I pay the tuition, I pay the test fees, I put in the time.

I also coach the Freshman basketball team and that runs nearly year round to be honest with you with season, open gyms, summer camps, etc...but I'm handsomely compensated for my coaching time, $400 a year :)

I could have taken a job fresh out of college for double my teacher pay as an engineer but knew I would be bored to death working an office job. I love working with kids and we make the money work. I'm happy with my decision and none of the previous money referencing was meant as a complaint.

I chose Happiness at work > More money at work.

Does that mean I think we are paid fairly given the comparison to other states, as well as our large class sizes, NOPE, but that's the deal I can certainly get out if I want to. I can also certainly fight for more money that I think we deserve. I hate politics though, so I don't do that either. I just sit back, bust my butt, do my job and spend my check wisely.

For the record Matt teaches at my school and is an excellent teacher. Are there public school teachers who are lazy and just do the minimum...certainly. Matt isn't one of them though. He does his job well and also runs the National Junior Honor Society at our school....as far as I know there is no compensation for his time there?

[oldno7]

Nice reply Kent
I never really took issue with Matt, just the premise that Utah teachers are under paid.

Speaking of coaching, us private sector guys have done a little also. Several years ago I put together a girls softball travel team. It included girls from Beaver to Snow canyon and most points in between. I bought their uniforms, paid for their travel expenses, including motel rooms. I not only was not compensated, it literally cost me thousands of dollars. We were ranked in the top 3 teams in the state. But I would never bring this up as an issue of money, it was done for love of a sport and kids.
Now get back to class and quit visiting bogley on us taxpayers money

[Kent K25]

My kids are taking a test so I roam the aisles between the desks to keep them honest, then BS a bit on here, then back to the aisles :)

Did you have any kids on that softball team, if not, you're a saint. Still impressive if you had a daughter on the team given the expenses/time.

[mattandersao]

Nice reply Kent
I never really took issue with Matt, just the premise that Utah teachers are under paid.

I never really took issue with pay just that if I dont like my pay I have to leave Utah I do wonder what is an appropriate tax payer funded salary for someone like myself with 5 years job experience and a masters degree? Any takers and why that amount?

[mattandersao]

For the record Matt teaches at my school and is an excellent teacher

I wouldnt go so far as to say excellent!

as far as I know there is no compensation for his time there?

I am compensated with Pizza and Bread sticks (dont worry you tax payers aren't paying for those ) but honestly my compensation for NJHS is much better than the slap in the face compensation you get for coaching. You are making on average what .25/hour? I put in an extra couple hours a month compared to hundreds of hours for you and other coaches.

[oldno7]

My kids are taking a test so I roam the aisles between the desks to keep them honest, then BS a bit on here, then back to the aisles :)

Did you have any kids on that softball team, if not, you're a saint. Still impressive if you had a daughter on the team given the expenses/time.

Yes, I had a daughter on the team.
Life is built off a collection of memories, those were good ones.

[oldno7]

I never really took issue with pay just that if I dont like my pay I have to leave Utah

Well
Is there something un true here? (This is the first time I've got to use the kick in the nuts dudes)

[mattandersao]

Is there something un true here? (This is the first time I've got to use the kick in the nuts dudes)

IDK man. Your pet peeve is teachers whining, mine is "love it, or leave it!"

Perhaps it is my background in American history. IMHO this idea of if you dont like something you only have two options 1. take it in the shorts 2. leave, is if anything un-American(disclaimer: I am by no means calling you Un-American, maybe I should have used a different word.)

Historically Americans have believed in anything but love it or leave it. Hey Bostonians, you dont like the intolerable act you could always leave Boston. You dont like slavery in Georgia, feel free to move to the North! I dont have any sources but I would guess that people have said similar things anytime injustice has occurred and I am in no way comparing historic injustice to teacher pay....

I am reminded of some of the most important words from my high school years.... "You've gotta fight, for your right, to PARTY"-Beastie Boys!

[Scott P]

Most of these hard working individuals will make considerably less than $20,000 this year, did they whine??

Apples to oranges, I think. Are they college educated? How much and in which field? What is their experience and what are they in charge of? I used to make $3.35 an hour at McDonalds. When I was married I was making $4.85 an hour. Is that fair to compare to someone with a college degree?

I have never been a teacher and likely will never be a teacher, but I do think they are overall underpaid in many states (especially Utah), at least if they are a good teacher.

Good teachers should recieve a good salary for good work. People here are saying that many teachers are paid enough, but what other professions require as much schooling as teachers have to take and what are their comparable salaries?

There are many good teachers out there and many of them have it tough. As far as a "glorified babysitter", let's see how YOU handle 30-40 kids all day. I know I couldn't do it.

Maybe they should be actually be babysitters. When my wife babysat and ran a day care, she was getting $30-$35 per child. I'd like to hear from anyone else who takes their kids to day care. How much are you charged per child?

Since it was brought up, by babysitting standards, how much should they get paid for 30 kids?

If you don't like the pay scale here, PLEASE MOVE to were it is more to your liking!!!!

That's what many good teachers have done. It will surely keep happening, especially if the economy improves. When the economy improves, I wonder what the teacher retention rate will be? I hate to see good teachers go elsewhere for jobs. I've seen it happen several times.

[Deathcricket]

Washington County tried to eliminate only 9th grade sports and it dang near turned into armageddon!

Kinda off subject so I will just post the link. Have you seen the algorithm olympics? This is a sport more high schools should support IMO. Comparable salaries to NFL and NBA, but working on pure brain power instead of brawn.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/1...olympics/all/1

[oldno7]

IDK man. Your pet peeve is teachers whining, mine is "love it, or leave it!"

Perhaps it is my background in American history. IMHO this idea of if you dont like something you only have two options 1. take it in the shorts 2. leave, is if anything un-American:!

Your reading more into this than intended...
My point is: If the pay rate in Utah doesn't work for someone, they need to go where the pay rate is more acceptable. Plain and simple, no love it or leave it.
If the pay rate is acceptable then that person can find a way to live that matches that payscale.

[mattandersao]

Kinda off subject so I will just post the link. Have you seen the algorithm olympics? This is a sport more high schools should support IMO. Comparable salaries to NFL and NBA, but working on pure brain power instead of brawn.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/1...olympics/all/1

POLAND BEAT US WTF!

[mattandersao]

Your reading more into this than intended...

Perhaps I am... I just hear it so often...I guess I am hearing it when it is unintended!