[Teacher317]

So why not just use annual salaries ans compare those? Why does the author feel the need to convert to hourly wages?

No matter which hourly figure one promotes, it's an attempt to slant public opinion. Look at the figure for the annual contract, and then decide if it's worth it to take on a task thta is virtually impossible to accimplosh.

The real problem isn't teacher salaries... it's the fact that the wage scale is based on time, instead of merit.
The real problem isn't that teachers aren't doing a good job... it's that bad teachers are virtually impossible to remove from the classroom.
The real problem isn't that teachers don't teach the basics... it's that they're required to teach towards standardized tests.
The real problem isn't that teachers are underperforming professionals... it's that they're the lowest-paid professionals with the lowest authority to direct their own efforts (which also does nothing to draw higher-qualified folk who are making far more in the "real world").

[Teacher317]

(It figures that I'd have typos in the last sentence that I add to the post! Dagnabbit!!)

[Shimmer128]

I can agree with all points except the last one. Excellent teachers claim that ...well, teachers are excellent. And some are, but TOO FEW.
I have to disagree with a blanket statement on that.
However, i don't agree that teachers are the main problem, not at all. It's that cursed NEA and top heavy admin. grrrrr

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"The real problem isn't that teachers are underperforming professionals... it's that they're the lowest-paid professionals with the lowest authority to direct their own efforts..."

Uh, did you read the article? It would appear that teachers are not anywhere close to the 'lowest-paid professionals'.

[Born Conservative]

I can agree with every point except the last point. I've been an RN for 18 years, and am still several dollars/hour away from $34/hour.

[goodwithagun]

As a high school teacher I completely agree. As to those who think that we are payed too much, I ask this: In your profession, have you ever had a student stand up, yell directly down at you (he is the size of a man at 16), and threaten to hit you (I am a 5'5" woman)? Oh, this student has also spent time in jail. He has recently been arrested on federal drug charges. He will probably be back in my class in a couple of months.

I want to tell you that this student is not the only one like this. I can't do anything about him other than send him out of my room (or have him forcibly removed) because according to the loony left, every child deserves an education.

What is my mental health, and life, worth? $36 and hour? By the way, I teach at an average school, not an inner city school.

[ByDesign]

The real problem isn't teacher salaries... it's the fact that the wage scale is based on time, instead of merit.
The real problem isn't that teachers aren't doing a good job... it's that bad teachers are virtually impossible to remove from the classroom.
The real problem isn't that teachers don't teach the basics... it's that they're required to teach towards standardized tests.
The real problem isn't that teachers are underperforming professionals... it's that they're the lowest-paid professionals with the lowest authority to direct their own efforts (which also does nothing to draw higher-qualified folk who are making far more in the "real world").

---

Add to that:

The real problem is that teachers are hamstrung by their superiors, the board, and the NEA to teach watered down PC dreck, and real learning is discouraged or flat out disallowed. The average teacher loses more and more control over their own curriculum every year, and more and more of it is being dictated by liberal idealism and politcal correctness. Any attempt to fight that can lead to losing their jobs.

[luckystarmom]

You forgot to add the problems with over-paid administrators and just lots of over-head in general.

In California, we also have all sorts of bond money going to "fix" the schools. Our district spent tons of money fixing up my daughters old school: painting it, putting in new carpet, putting in a new black top, and putting in a new play ground. They used that school for another year, an closed it.

There was a middle school in our district that they spent money on putting in wireless connections so that all of the students could have laptop computers. They painted it, put in new carpet, and spent millions on this school to "fix it up". They closed it after a year, and then they spent $10 million to convert it into an elementary school.

I don't think teacher salaries are the problems. I think school administration is a big huge problem.

[moog]

The real problem I see is the attitude of LOTS of people, teachers of course included.