Why do teachers ALWAYS complain of being underpaid?

Most teachers are lazy, just hoping to make a few bucks in order to finance a new vehicle and purchase Kraft macaroni and cheese for dinner!

Their husbands are little more than a sack of mud on the couch!

RealTalk wrote:

Most teachers are lazy, just hoping to make a few bucks in order to finance a new vehicle and purchase Kraft macaroni and cheese for dinner!

Their husbands are little more than a sack of mud on the couch!

Sounds like you had some underpaid nonmotivated teachers in your life.

I wish I made as much as a teacher.

https://m.imgur.com/Xi0BuU5

sparky polastry wrote:

I've actually never heard a teacher complain about being underpaid, and I know many. There does seem to be an inordinate number of people who like to complain on their behalf though.

Exactly, it's the unions to blame. Not the teachers.

That's not very much money, unless they happen to live in an incredibly inexpensive area. Were you being sarcastic?

Because 90% of teachers are afflicted with obsessive compulsive bipolar disorder.

Needledik wrote:

With the impending Los Angeles Unified teachers going on strike, seriously, why do teachers always gripe how hard their life is? Healthcare is full paid for them, pensions set up, and making $75,000 on average per year with 3 months off?

Just to be clear, pay is not the sticking point for the current LAUSD troubles. The union asked for a raise and the district came close to matching it. I think that the negotiation can and will be resolved without a counteroffer on salary.

Rather, the major sticking point is class size. The district does not want to hire more teachers in order to reduce class sizes. Of course, reducing class size effectively eases the job of the classroom teacher. But, given that I've seen LAUSD classroom sizes first hand, given that my 6 year old is in 1st grade in the district, I have to side with the teachers on this one.

A secondary issue is that the teachers want a moratorium on new charter schools. Not sure how I feel about that but I just wanted to clarify on this specific case.

Because the system sucks with excess number of overpaid administrators and institutionalized inefficiency. Run it more like a corporation by getting rid of tenure and giving bonuses to teachers based on merit-( e.g. expertise, test grades,student performance, other side tangible benefits like coaching and team performance).

I'm a HS teacher and I've never complained about pay. I've complained about a lot of things with the lack of parenting that goes on at "home" (and I use that word very loosely) topping the list. Yes, I get July and August off. I'd love to see any of you dopes hating on teachers spend one day in my school. I'm sitting here in my empty classroom during my lunch and all I hear is the blaring of the school safety agent's (police officer) walkie-talkie outside my door. Beats last year when it was simply the gang hangout.

browski wrote:

I'm a HS teacher and I've never complained about pay. I've complained about a lot of things with the lack of parenting that goes on at "home" (and I use that word very loosely) topping the list. Yes, I get July and August off. I'd love to see any of you dopes hating on teachers spend one day in my school. I'm sitting here in my empty classroom during my lunch and all I hear is the blaring of the school safety agent's (police officer) walkie-talkie outside my door. Beats last year when it was simply the gang hangout.

And rest assured those same parents you complain about resent teachers for lack of teaching going on at school. You have less of a right to complain about the parents who pay your salary, bud. Just do your job and express appreciation for the parents who parent and hope you get appreciation in return.

1. Human nature to complain about anything.

2. Teaching profession demands a lot of energy and time outside the classroom

Teachers agreed to get into what they got into. It's like spending 4 years digging a tunnel and then complaining you are stuck. You spent 4 years digging yourself.. Use that energy to your advantage. Get yourself out.

The only way you are going to get more money, realistically, is to become an entrepreneur (hard for lots of people, but they have it within them if they'd look) or find a lucrative profession like real estate, dentistry, a doctor, etc.

Or become a criminal.

As for the house, yes that does sound like a lot, but it is reflective of the market. That house looks like it was built in the '70's. I live in a similar styled bungalow - for sale now in Canada -1250 square feet approximately - lots of upgrades - but for half the price. Decent neighbourhood. Quiet. All about market and location. And 350k Canadian is less than 350k American.

I teach in a school educating one of the most under-served communities in all of NYC. The large majority of "parents" of my students live in public housing and don't pay my salary. The large majority of them have less of a clue of what goes on in school than you do.

We're expected to be parent first and teacher second to the kids and then are partially evaluated by how they perform on a state test written for kids growing up on Long Island or upstate.

But at least I earn a decent salary.

Dear Parents,

Your expectations of Teachers,

should match your

commitment as a parent.

It depends on the state. But for the most part, teachers have advanced degrees and make the same amount as a paper salseman in Kentucky. Even if they don't work for 8 weeks during the summer, they often pull 60 hour work weeks during the school year and deal with everyone's sh1tty kids.

And to support most teachers:

Both of my parents taught in the public school system at various points in their careers.

I grew up around teachers.

I was generally a good student and respected them.

Some teachers were sub par and should have exited the profession.

Those who complained about their pay, which I never heard as a student.

I hear their concern, but the world doesn't work that way.

They should enter politics and push for a different pay structure for teachers.

Or enter the business world - which provides less security but more benefits.

Why did they enter the profession in the first place? Security. Everyone wants security.

Only way to get it is to create circumstances for yourself. No security in life except what you create for yourself.

Most teachers in my life were good, honest, hardworking people and served me in a positive way.

wow, after a several month drought we finally have a good Rupp-bashing thread AND a teacher-bashing thread on the same day!

Needledik wrote:

With the impending Los Angeles Unified teachers going on strike, seriously, why do teachers always gripe how hard their life is? Healthcare is full paid for them, pensions set up, and making $75,000 on average per year with 3 months off? Reminds me of all the fast food workers out here demanding $15-20/hr. So you have to grade papers...big deal..don’t they still have scan tron machines to do that? I hope they go on strike for nothing and then end up grateful they at least have a kick back job where they can retire young.

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. The average teacher salary is roughly $20k lower than what you think, the hours are much longer than what you think (and very few teachers actually take 3 months off during the summer), and the defined benefit pension plan is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In any case, higher salaries=better job candidates=better outcomes for children=improved long-term economic growth. Learn Econ 101.

Bingo was his name o wrote:

sparky polastry wrote:

I've actually never heard a teacher complain about being underpaid, and I know many. There does seem to be an inordinate number of people who like to complain on their behalf though.

Exactly, it's the unions to blame. Not the teachers.

So true.

The Gallant Pig Man wrote:

You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. The average teacher salary is roughly $20k lower than what you think, the hours are much longer than what you think (and very few teachers actually take 3 months off during the summer), and the defined benefit pension plan is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In any case, higher salaries=better job candidates=better outcomes for children=improved long-term economic growth. Learn Econ 101.

The amazing thing is that these salaries are available publicly. Most teachers in LA won't make >75,000 dollars until after 10 years of work assuming they have graduate degrees. Let me know how many other career fields have to endure the see thing.