Bev's Balance the Budget Challenge

[shawn]

Found the two articles in my email. Got to love it when your parents are giving you subtle hints to move closer to them.
http://www.citizen-times.com/articl...127025/Report-NC-Named-Worst-Teacher-Salaries
http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=158356
I know these are not the best sources, but when talking to teachers across the country I can see how they came up with this.

You might want to re-read those. It says that teachers are paid less than lots of other professions. Which is true, and has been true for a long time. It doesn't say teachers in NC are paid disproportionately less than teachers in other states.

Considering that NC is among the poorer states (ranking about 30th percentile), paying teachers near 50th percentile is probably much better than it would otherwise appear.

 

[UTfball68]

I'll have to dig it up. It is on my computer at work. Sticking it out as a teacher in this state is difficult to say the least. Many districts are cutting the benefits that or bonus's that they used to give. Most districts are also on a pay freeze. I know that there are many industries that are going through the same issues. It is just interesting that education seems to be on the cutting block so quickly.

And that's why my gf made a profession change at Christmas time. After 4 years of teaching, she decided the market was just too fickle for her.

she must have really not made shit in sc. my girlfriend has been teaching two years now and imho, she doesnt make squat. im still in college, but if i worked full time making the same hourly wage i make now, id make right much more than she does.

My chick was making 28k through the middle of 4 years. While that may not sound like alot...you also have to stop and think that teachers only work 2/3 of the year. While it's a noble profession, I don't necessarily think the pay is all that bad. My girl's pay was proportionate to a 42k salary.

 

[RatLabGuy]

...you also have to stop and think that teachers only work 2/3 of the year. While it's a noble profession, I don't necessarily think the pay is all that bad. My girl's pay was proportionate to a 42k salary.

You might want to check some dates and your math there, bucko.

Sumemr break = 10 weeks, 12 weeks max. That's just over 2 months, or 10/52nd of a year. 1/5th. So they work 4/5ths of a year, at the very least 3/4ths of the year. Look at a calandar.
28k * 4/3rd (worst case) = 37k.
And unlike most professions in the salary range, they get no lunch break, have to be there both before and after the "work day" starts, and no fully paid vacation days that they can take ad lib. If you think teacherrs are overpaid, especially when you break it down to a real by-the-hour worked, you're crazy.
Pretty much the only perk teachers get is free health insurance, but even that is only for them, adding family members = nice high rate like everybody else.

 

[UTfball68]

^^^What about all the other school year breaks (Christmas tacks on another 3 weeks, Easter/Spring is another week, so that already drops you to 70%, I said 2/3 which is 66.66667, that's close enough for me)? Keep in mind, they get more than summer break off bucko. The kids only go to school 180 days a year (actually RSS backed that off to 170 days, might be statewide), plus a dozen or so teacher work days. As for hours, my chick was only required to be there a half hour before and a half hour after the children left (which made it roughly an 8 hr day, plus breaks/planning and the time she did get for lunch). Maybe my girl got lucky with her scenario, but I know and am friends with enough teachers to know those are relatively common numbers. Like I said, it's a noble profession, even if your numbers are right, I still don't think the pro-rated amount of 37k is that bad. But that's neither here nor there, I'm not gonna change your mind and you're not gonna change mine. This is just what I've deduced from family, friends and a girl friend in the biz.

Edit...just did a little more 'quick math'...I've gotta work 250 days to maintain my full time 2000 hour status with an 8 hr day (I'm actually putting in 2500 hours, but that's not average time, not to mention what I bring home). If the teacher is working 170 days...that's gasp, 68% I'm still closer again. If you include the work days, we're getting closer to your number, But you have to say the teachers are working 200 days a year before it even gets close to 'them' only working 1/5 less than a standard job, and I just don't see that.

 

[awheelterd]

And that's why my gf made a profession change at Christmas time. After 4 years of teaching, she decided the market was just too fickle for her.
My chick was making 28k through the middle of 4 years. While that may not sound like alot...you also have to stop and think that teachers only work 2/3 of the year. While it's a noble profession, I don't necessarily think the pay is all that bad. My girl's pay was proportionate to a 42k salary.

thats not the case with my gf. she teaches animal science and landscaping so she's a 12 month employee making the same as the teachers who are only there 8mos. she has to be at school at 7 and has after school practices with all her FFA teams till at least 5 normally, not including competitions and such on the weekends. she's got a second degree in landscape design that she would make a whole helluva lot more with if she had a job at a design firm.

 

[shawn]

she's got a second degree in landscape design that she would make a whole helluva lot more with if she had a job at a design firm.

Pretty sure that if she working in landscape, she would have been unemployed more or less since Summer 2008. Figure that into your equation, see how the numbers work out.

And actually... $30k for a landscape grad is probably about right... for working 2000 hours/yr.

 

[UTfball68]

Damn...just had a beautiful idea for this thread. After sitting in the DMV for 3 hours to renew my license, I would have gladly paid a benjamin or two for an express line. I know I can't be alone on that one. Have different lines paced progressivley faster and increasing in price. In the amount of time I was there they got through 10 'A' designations 8 'b' designations and 3 'c' designations. I bet that deficit would be cut down in no time, simply by 'allowing' folks to pay for better service at the DMV. Luckily, my boss just let me chalk it up to a long lunch, but some of you with businesses would be money ahead dropping a couple hundred to be out of there in 30 mins instead of closing shop for 3 hours.

 

[UTfball68]

has after school practices with all her FFA teams till at least 5 normally, not including competitions and such on the weekends.

This is voluntary, no? I mean, she assumed the faculty role that those teams needed, and that isn't mandated upon the rest of the faculty, right?

 

[awheelterd]

Pretty sure that if she working in landscape, she would have been unemployed more or less since Summer 2008. Figure that into your equation, see how the numbers work out.

And actually... $30k for a landscape grad is probably about right... for working 2000 hours/yr.

she worked for a design firm in college and graduated dec 08, the firm pretty much tanked as no one was wanting fancy shrubs in front of their houses since they were all broke. thats when she took the teaching job.

This is voluntary, no? I mean, she assumed the faculty role that those teams needed, and that isn't mandated upon the rest of the faculty, right?

FFA is part of the high school ag curriculum and with FFA goes the competitions and such.

im not saying that she should make more, im just saying that she/they dont make shit to start with. shes the one who picked a profession that she loves but doesnt make much money at.