So how much do teachers make?

[midnight armadillo]

specifically, how about Vermont, with a PhD? I keep thinking - I love teaching, my work as an industry scientist for a defense contractor (no weapons, at least) is not terribly fulfilling, and my family really loves the Burlington VT area. This raises the million-dollar question - what's the starting pay for a PhD in physics in a public high school? I can't say an era of widespread budget cuts is an opportune time to go into education nor is it possible financially at the moment, but it is a thought lurking around my brain.

This post was inspired by the discovery that an old classmate of mine quit his job a year ago to travel around and do volunteer work and see the world. He decided life was too short to work a job he didn't care for. I'm starting to see his point.

[kwassa]

1. here you go.

http://www.teacher-world.com/teacher-salary/vermont.html

[midnight armadillo]

3. that's depressing

Well, looks like that option will have to be shelved for the next few years. No way we could do that with our medical costs at the moment...

[kwassa]

5. Teachers, at least around here, get good medical benefits.

one of the better aspects of the profession.

from the website on Vermont:
"When viewing these numbers, keep in consideration such benefits as full dental, long-term disability and quality health insurance. "

[Heidi]

2. "What Teachers Make," a poem by Taylor Mali

The video of Taylor Mali reciting his poem, "What Teachers Make": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xuFnP5N2uA

What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school

By Taylor Mali
http://www.taylormali.com/index.cfm?webid=13

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

[tigereye]

10. that's great!

teachers rock!

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. Often, the internet is a way to simply pass the time

but tonight, it has been, thanks to this post, as fufilling as a four-course meal at the finest restaurant (for free).

Thank you for the wonderful poem and sentiment.

[flvegan]

4. Not enough.

I don't care who the teacher is, where he/she teaches, what they teach nor at what level they teach it. Whatever the salary, guaranteed, it's not appropriate.

[LynzM]

7. Bingo.

That was going to be my response... we so undervalue education and educators in this country, it's embarassing and shameful.

[MrCoffee]

8. +2

[PVnRT]

6. The pay sucks, and the licensing is a nightmare

[wickerwoman]

15. Amen, brother.

I have to go back to school for a year ($8-10,000 in tuition) to get the same job I was doing ten years ago in a different country.

All for a $35-40,000 a year salary? With no prospects of promotion?

How many other jobs that require a graduate degree pay that miserably?

One of my high school dropout classmates sells insurance and makes more than that.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Around here, much less than cops...

which tells ya something.

[seaker]

11. Here is a link

http://teacherportal.com/salary/Vermont-teacher-salary
Never enough, but a ton of fun

[MichiganVote]

12. Many teachers can't stand their jobs either. Better think twice.

[midnight armadillo]

13. You mean "the grass is always greener"?

I'm well aware of that danger...as well as the huge amount of bullshit that goes along with public school teaching (buying your own classroom supplies? WTF?) since my wife is a former 3rd grade teacher and one of my best friends teaches high school English.

[MichiganVote]

19. Do some sustitute teaching...that'll learn ya'. Kids ain't easy nowadays.

[harmonicon]

14. good luck

My mom has a PhD and has been a teacher in the past. Maybe 15 or 20 years ago when she quit her last job (not teaching) she wanted to get back into teaching, but no one wanted to hire her - they'd rather have someone just out of college who they can pay less.

[Xipe Totec]

16. Allow me to explain it this way...

[leftyclimber]

17. Have you thought about community college?

If you're worried about the paycheck the little/rural ones probably won't cover your medical expenses (although they certainly need you and people like you) but the CCs closer to urban areas pay fairly decently and largely hire Ph.D.s to teach their classes.

Another option is Master's and lower institutions, where you will spend more of your time teaching and less researching, if that's what you're looking for. You will end up with more low-income and first-generation students, and will help make a difference with a lot of the same kids I'd imagine you're hoping to reach in high school. I'm not talking a six-figure salary here, but starting on the tenure track at these sorts of schools should get you at least 50K to start.