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Is public school teacher a desireable profession in the US? Is it anywhere near the level of prestige associated with lawyers or doctors? How is the pay? This i

by arkx 15y ago

Is public school teacher a desireable profession in the US? Is it anywhere near the level of prestige associated with lawyers or doctors? How is the pay? This is one of they key differences that's repeated in nearly every one of the numerous articles I've read about the Finnish school system, and it's the one single thing US really could do a lot about.

mattdeboard 15y ago
Teachers are government employees, unionized no less. That is to a great many Americans a double whammy. The relationship between Americans and their government has always been -- and will always be -- adversarial.
drumdance 15y ago
Teachers are held in high regard in China too.
afterburner 15y ago
US teachers get crap pay.
- learc83 15y ago
  That is a myth. You may believe they should be paid more, but when you account for the amount of hours the work and benefits their total compensation is very competitive with private sector jobs that require similar levels of education.
  - afterburner 15y ago
    "Account for"? The pay reflects the requirements. I never claimed crap pay was a cause. But it is clear it demonstrates that the American system does not prioritize quality in teaching positions.
    - learc83 15y ago
      >"Account for"? Yes teachers work around 190 days per year and in my area (metro Atlanta), they start off at $40k+ and around $50k with a Masters degree. They are guaranteed raises so that they can easily get up to $60k (in today's money--more if they have graduate degree) by the time they retire, and after 30 years they can retire with 60% pay (most of them can retire in their very early 50s instead of 60+ like the rest of us). They get more time off than nearly any other profession. Based on salary alone the average teacher makes 57% more than the overall state average salary, and when you add in their benefits package it goes up even higher. With cost of living in my area that is definitely not "crap" pay.
      - afterburner 15y ago
        You misunderstood my quote marks. I don't care if you account for hours worked, the net pay in the end doesn't seem to attract the quality you need in teachers, nor give them the respect they deserve. Also, your numbers seem suspect. The median pay for teachers is around $40,000 in the US. Median, not starting. http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary
danssig 15y ago
Now, it's held in very low esteem and has very poor pay. It is assumed that if they were any good they would take private sector jobs where they can make a lot more.
philwelch 15y ago
More to the point, it isn't at all selective--the necessary academic certification to be a schoolteacher is way, way, way easier than the academic certification necessary to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or accountant.

by arkx 15y ago

mattdeboard 15y ago

Teachers are government employees, unionized no less. That is to a great many Americans a double whammy. The relationship between Americans and their government has always been -- and will always be -- adversarial.

drumdance 15y ago

Teachers are held in high regard in China too.

afterburner 15y ago

US teachers get crap pay.

learc83 15y ago
That is a myth. You may believe they should be paid more, but when you account for the amount of hours the work and benefits their total compensation is very competitive with private sector jobs that require similar levels of education.
- afterburner 15y ago
  "Account for"? The pay reflects the requirements. I never claimed crap pay was a cause. But it is clear it demonstrates that the American system does not prioritize quality in teaching positions.
  - learc83 15y ago
    >"Account for"? Yes teachers work around 190 days per year and in my area (metro Atlanta), they start off at $40k+ and around $50k with a Masters degree. They are guaranteed raises so that they can easily get up to $60k (in today's money--more if they have graduate degree) by the time they retire, and after 30 years they can retire with 60% pay (most of them can retire in their very early 50s instead of 60+ like the rest of us). They get more time off than nearly any other profession. Based on salary alone the average teacher makes 57% more than the overall state average salary, and when you add in their benefits package it goes up even higher. With cost of living in my area that is definitely not "crap" pay.
    - afterburner 15y ago
      You misunderstood my quote marks. I don't care if you account for hours worked, the net pay in the end doesn't seem to attract the quality you need in teachers, nor give them the respect they deserve. Also, your numbers seem suspect. The median pay for teachers is around $40,000 in the US. Median, not starting. http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary

danssig 15y ago

Now, it's held in very low esteem and has very poor pay. It is assumed that if they were any good they would take private sector jobs where they can make a lot more.

philwelch 15y ago

More to the point, it isn't at all selective--the necessary academic certification to be a schoolteacher is way, way, way easier than the academic certification necessary to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or accountant.