pitiful priorities

for five years, i was an elementary education teacher. i chose my profession based on my passion for helping young children succeed. it's obvious to almost anyone you ask, that i did not get into teaching for the money. it's a known fact that teachers are underpaid.

i came across the following article, listing the 10 lowest paid careers for new college graduates. not only are new teachers listed at #7, but elementary teachers are even lower on the pay scale at #2. the starting average salary for elementary teachers is $33,000, and mid-career at $42,400.

why is this so sad? because the average professional athlete makes $2.9 million annually. unfortunately professional athletes are not the only group that is grossly overpaid. CEOs of major corporations and lawyers also make the list.

sadly it seems like our country has its priorities severely mixed up. americans constantly bitch about the education system in our country, but little (if anything) is going to change until our priorities begin to change.

our schools need funding. our teachers need the pay they deserve. maybe then we'll start to see our education system begin to improve.

are you listening, arne?!

and just for fun...i love this one!

Teachers Get Paid TOO Much!

Teachers get paid TOO much...I'm fed up with teachers and their hefty
salary schedules. What we need here is a little perspective.

If I had my way, I'd pay these teachers myself-I'd pay them babysitting
wages. That's right-instead of paying these outrageous taxes, I'd give them
$3 an hour out of my own pocket. And I'm only going to pay them for five
hours, not coffee breaks. That would be $15 a day. Each parent should pay
$15 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their child. Even if they have
more than one child, it's still a lot cheaper than private day care.

Now, how many children do they teach every day-maybe 20? That's
$15x20=$300 a day. But remember, they only work 180 days a year! I am
not going to pay them for all those vacations! $300x180=$54,000. (Just a
minute, I think my calculator needs new batteries.)

I know now you teachers will say-what about those who have 10 years
experience and a master's degree? Well, maybe (to be fair) they could get
the minimum wage, and instead of just baby-sitting, they could read the
kids a story. We could round that off to about $5 an hour, times five
hours, times 20 children. That's $500 a day times 180 days. That's
$90,000...HUH?!?

photo found here.