Seattle Teacher Strike Starts Today

[tarheelbybirth]

If it's so bad, why don't you look for something better? Just curious.

You might want to work on your reading comprehension. There are classes for that. With teachers.

 

[BioHawk]

This is correct. Between the 2+ months 'off' when school is not in session, and the additional time off during holidays (which is usually another 3-4 weeks at least), teachers are working about 9 months compared with 12 months that typical company employees or self-employed small business owners work. (Most companies give 2 weeks paid vacation - not sure if teachers are afforded that or sick leave in typical teaching positions, but even without that, we are comparing 12-month paid salaries vs. approx. 9 month paid salaries; depending on vacation time for teachers vs. 'typical' employees, this could equate to almost 10 months).

Thus, a $50,000 a year teacher's salary is roughly equivalent to $66,600 in a corporate position (based on 9 months) or $60,000 (based on 10 months). That's not because 'teachers are underpaid' necessarily, it's party because they are not required to work for the entire year, and it's clearly not an apples:apples comparison. That means teachers are probably compensated 'fairly' if they are making 75% to maybe 80% of what a typical full time job earns.

When I was a kid, I knew teachers who would run their own house-painting businesses, or would do de-tasseling contracts during the 2-3 months in the summer when they were off to make up the difference.

I'm not posting to insult teachers or justify them making smaller salaries because 'they don't work hard'; I benefitted from some GREAT teachers in HS and grade school. But let's make sure we're being honest about compensation when people are complaining about low teaching salaries; if they are making <75% of an 'equivalent' company/full time salary, then we clearly have a wage gap to fill in....

I have yet to see an actual teacher dispute what you have said here. In fact, most of us would argue the exact same thing. The problem is when people come on here with an attitude that equates "working hard" and "value" with the amount of numbers on the paycheck and shit on what we do, like anyone on the planet could do what we do so therefore they shouldn't have benefits or be paid like an actual professional position. Then, in the exact same post claim that they would never teach because they don't have the tolerance for it.

 

[Bulldogs1974]

The reason people bring shit up about teachers is threads like this. Easy pickings! Always love a good teach tard thread. Always.

People like you must have no life or must be scared of their own farts. Im always amazed that people think that getting someone to explain something is trolling or "easy pickings". It's like you can't believe that someone would defend their profession or have a discussion about something.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

I have yet to see an actual teacher dispute what you have said here. In fact, most of us would argue the exact same thing...

I think one of the key points though that some were making is that this fact is most often not revealed during conversations about teacher pay. Yes, after some point it out, there is agreement that it is so, but it is a pretty key difference between the number of hours that a school teacher normally works annually to receive their annual pay v. an average Joe working a regular FT job.

Most often, teacher pay is talked about publicly without acknowledging this very big variable.

 

[BioHawk]

I think one of the key points though that some were making is that this fact is most often not revealed during conversations about teacher pay. Yes, after some point it out, there is agreement that it is so, but it is a pretty key difference between the number of hours that a school teacher normally works annually to receive their annual pay v. an average Joe working a regular FT job.

Most often, teacher pay is talked about publicly without acknowledging this very big variable.

Well, whenever I decide I need to kick myself in the balls and jump into this debate and make that argument I always mention that if teachers worked 11 months a year they would make 10-15 thousand more a year. Most teachers I know are not unhappy with their paycheck. Of course, I don't work in Wisconsin or North Carolina or Indiana or any of the other states where these draconian cuts have been pushed by the right and have successfully been passed.

 

[iammrhawkeyes]

People like you must have no life or must be scared of their own farts. Im always amazed that people think that getting someone to explain something is trolling or "easy pickings". It's like you can't believe that someone would defend their profession or have a discussion about something.

Awwww... do you and Tommy feel better now? LOL. Why would anyone have to "defend their profession" here? I mean, people troll the Christards, the soccertards, the GOPtards, the libtards, the climatetards (either side) etc.. Why not the teachtards? I do think the OP knew what he was doing I do have respect for the profession but it can be fun to watch some of the predictable responses from some of the same predictable posters. We've had at least a million of these threads over the years and it usually goes about the same. Kind of like watching a rerun of an old favorite comedy. All in good fun.