quickndirty wrote:
Podunk U. wrote:I'm a teacher (professor) in his mid-30s with several times that amount of money saved. I don't know what the big deal is.
The narrative is that teachers are paid hobo wages, therefore making it totally impossible for a poor down and out teacher to save $4.50, much less $45K. At least that's what the teachers union says.
I'll address your point in a moment. Focusing on the topic of this thread, I want to build off of what others have suggested: If you are not totally disillusioned by the education system as a whole (though I understand if you are), you might consider a different career within your school or undertaking a course of study that allows you to teach or do consulting work at a higher educational level. I can elaborate about what this might look like if you are interested.
quickndirty: I hear you. I feel I've been fairly compensated for the work I do. I can't speak to the state of play in states other than mine, or in levels of education other than mine, or with unions other than my own. I'm a part of a university prof union, not the teacher's union. For all I know, their grievances are legitimate. I do not know. All of this stuff is quite variable and more complicated than the campaign sloganeering of the different sides of the political spectrum.
I also do not have children and until recently did not have a wife to provide for. I also suspect that my ability to generate secondary income as a consultant, editor, etc. might be different than most K-12 teachers.