That’s assuming they work only an 8 hour day and no more. This doesn’t take into account the teacher work days (required) during many of the days through the year when students don’t go to school, evenings and weekends spent grading papers, summer workshops, after school tutoring (required), etc.
My biggest beef is the “Pro-D Day”.
When I was in school there was one or two through the entire school year. Now they are having one a month!
The two summer months when there are no classes to interrupt would be a far more equitable time for these classes for the teaching staff, wouldn’t they?
Classes are a total of 6 1/2 hours a day. If the teacher can’t get their grading done in the other 1 1/2 hours, perhaps they should find a REAL job, where 8-10 hours are considered NORMAL!
Look at the private sector.
That is still a lower work load than an exempt office or plant worker at a comparable salary.
I worked over 1,000 hours of overtime last year for no extra pay. It is expected as part of the job.
Note, that is a 60 hour week, which is pretty typical. Some months I was there north of a hundred hours a week
My kid is going to after school tutoring...it isn’t free.
Teacher work days.....yes, some have learned how to skip these expensive (to taxpayer) educational sleepers.
I was getting a pedicure one day and two teachers were also....one remarked that they didn’t need to be back to report for two hours....they signed in and then left for a pedicure all the while bragging on this while I sat there red faced!!! At $7K/year school taxes this is what they were doing with MY money....learning to beat the system!!!
And to be clear I am not arguing now that we should cry rivers of tears for teachers either. I think the Hollywood portrayal of teachers is also incorrect. But I agree with you, that maybe they are fairly paid. My wife just started, so it might get better as time goes on, but she gets to work at 830, school is over 300, but she stays until 500 to get ready for the next day. She also had to sheepishly decline chaperoning the school dance - which is something expected of teachers to do - no extra pay.
“This doesn’t take into account the teacher work days (required) during many of the days through the year when students don’t go to school, evenings and weekends spent grading papers, summer workshops, after school tutoring (required), etc. “
True of most professionals. The difference is most professionals are also required to perform.
Teachers fail, often. Not their fault, IMHO. The system doesn’t allow for any discipline. That was why, after doing my student teaching many years ago, I switched career fields. Didn’t want to be a babysitter.
Considered trying it again after I retired from the military, but quickly concluded things were worse now, not better. Teaching in public schools is all about babysitting. If you are extraordinary, you can also get some teaching done. But that is optional.