Low Pay? High Pay? The Truth About Teacher Pay

Go to any teacher forum, and you'll find adegree be paid the same as someone who never
discussion on the topic of pay. Are teachers paidgraduated High School? This is especially true for
well? Overpaid? Not paid enough? Here are somefirst-year teachers, who in some districts and
of the biggest arguments on teacher pay - asstates receive a salary lower than $40,000 per
well as the truth.year.
Argument 1: Teachers are overpaid.The response to this argument is that every job
People who make this argument often focus onis full of stress. Additionally, in certain schools, a
hours and time off. They claim that teachersteacher's salary reaches six figures.
work less hours per day than those in otherHere's the truth. When it comes to teaching pay,
professions, and have more vacations and timethe amount a teacher earns is irrelevant. What
off than other jobs may provide. And yet theymatters is how the teacher feels about the pay.
get paid a high salary.To some people, forty-thousand a year is a lot,
The response to this view is that teachers oftenand to others, one hundred thousand is too little.
take their work home. They have to createSome people are content making enough to
lesson plans, grade papers, call parents, and docover the bills, and others have a different view -
things beyond the five 40-minute sessions in theand want more out of life. And how you feel
classroom.about the money you make, in general, depends
Argument 2: Teachers are underpaid.on what you think you are worth. This is true for
People who make this argument bring up theall people - not just teachers.
stress of teaching, as well as the level ofIncrease your self-worth, and you'll increase your
education required for the job. How can someonesalary.
who spent the time - and money - on a masters