Do private teachers really make a lot less than public teachers? If so...

[Anonymous]

...why do teachers go work at privates? Is it tough for privates to hire teachers?

Public gets higher salary, union representation, better & lifetime health insurance, pension after 25 years, more chances to rise ranks in administration? Private gets paid less, not sure about health insurance, and no pension? I believe private teachers get major tuition discount for their kids, but I doubt that's a difference maker when you're in your 20s and just starting out.

[Anonymous]

This is why I chose FCPS after Nysmith offered me about 1/2 the salary and no benefits. Private teachers do not have to have education degrees or teaching licenses. I believe other benefits to teaching at a private are the lower class sizes and less testing.

[Anonymous]

Private teachers have fewer students, more resources, more flexibility on curriculum and techniques, and depending on the specific schools, more engaged and prepared students. A shorter year too (for the schools I'm familiar with, private school has 170 days of instruction, while public has 180). For some teachers, these things make up for the reduction in pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...why do teachers go work at privates? Is it tough for privates to hire teachers?

Public gets higher salary, union representation, better & lifetime health insurance, pension after 25 years, more chances to rise ranks in administration? Private gets paid less, not sure about health insurance, and no pension? I believe private teachers get major tuition discount for their kids, but I doubt that's a difference maker when you're in your 20s and just starting out.

Yes, teachers at privates are paid significantly less! I've taught at three...

I attended private schools and have only taught in independents. I don't think private schools necessarily have the best teachers because there are so many very young teachers who take the low-paying jobs because they don't intend to stay in teaching long, or because they aren't employable at public since they are not certified. Of course, there are also some great teachers, many of whom don't need the money because of their spouses, but the young, uncertified, inexperienced teachers are a problem I am noticing more as I get older.

Of course, on this site, parents will chime in to tell me it is different at their school, and their underpaid young teachers are excellent.

I'm offering my opinion based on 10+ years as a teacher in several independents.

[Anonymous]

Teachers at our private school get a pension. I don't know what they get paid, but I'm sure it's not for everyone. Some teachers like more autonomy, more choice when it comes to the curriculum and the materials they use. In public school, everything is very much prescribed by states and school boards.

[Anonymous]

More freedom, smaller class sizes, more controlled environment

[Anonymous]

When the gal across the street moved from a highly sought after DC private school to a Virginia public school her annual salary increased 60%. That's a lot. But the OP is wrong in that in Virginia at least there is no teacher union. Not sure about Maryland and the District. Getting back to the gal from private, she did note that the number of school days increased dramatically, the number of teacher gifts decreased significantly, the amount of work stayed the same, she gets MORE contact after-hours from parents and the parents are much more demanding (this last part I thought was odd but she had quite a few examples. Could it be due to the class size increasing?).

[Anonymous]

In some cases, free tuition

[Anonymous]

Very, very few privates offer any tuition discount to their teachers and free tuition is a thing of the pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the gal across the street moved from a highly sought after DC private school to a Virginia public school her annual salary increased 60%. That's a lot. But the OP is wrong in that in Virginia at least there is no teacher union. Not sure about Maryland and the District. Getting back to the gal from private, she did note that the number of school days increased dramatically, the number of teacher gifts decreased significantly, the amount of work stayed the same, she gets MORE contact after-hours from parents and the parents are much more demanding (this last part I thought was odd but she had quite a few examples. Could it be due to the class size increasing?).

There are teacher unions in VA. It is a Right to Work state, but there are unions and associations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: pension after 25 years

Maybe, if the person started teaching at age 30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the gal across the street moved from a highly sought after DC private school to a Virginia public school her annual salary increased 60%. That's a lot. But the OP is wrong in that in Virginia at least there is no teacher union. Not sure about Maryland and the District. Getting back to the gal from private, she did note that the number of school days increased dramatically, the number of teacher gifts decreased significantly, the amount of work stayed the same, she gets MORE contact after-hours from parents and the parents are much more demanding (this last part I thought was odd but she had quite a few examples. Could it be due to the class size increasing?).

There are teacher unions in VA. It is a Right to Work state, but there are unions and associations.

No, again. You're wrong. There is an association but it does not do collective bargaining, hence it is not a union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very, very few privates offer any tuition discount to their teachers and free tuition is a thing of the pass.

. You are mistaken- our private offers 50 percent discount to all staff for kids tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very, very few privates offer any tuition discount to their teachers and free tuition is a thing of the pass.

. You are mistaken- our private offers 50 percent discount to all staff for kids tuition.

Which would make your school one of the very few.

[Anonymous]

In Baltimore, many of the privates offer free housing to faculty, even the day schools.