The High Cost of Low Teacher Salaries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FYI, MC teachers get 10 sick days and 3 personal days each year. If your "friend" stayed home to watch the Royal Wedding, then she used a personal day. If your son's teacher has taken off "a bunch of Fridays and Mondays" this year, then she too is using her sick and personal leave. Is it possible your son's teacher was out because she was attending meetings or a training? Are you certain that she is going on regular "mini-vacations"? I have a hard time believing the administration would let this happen on a regular basis.

$90k for 10 months of work (less than that really since they get off two weeks for Christmas and spring break) Do you work 8 hour days? I don't. It is not unusual for me to physically be in the school building for 10 hours each day...and then of course I have work to bring home and work to do on the weekends. If I clocked my working hours I would bet they compare to the 12 months you work at your job. Most people have absolutely no idea how many hours teachers actually spend working.

So, the 13 days are in addition to a week at Christmas and a week at Spring Break, in additional to all the holidays. Plus 2 months off in the summer. I don't begrudge teachers all of their time off, but I don't think they realize how petty their complaining sounds to many of us in the private sector gets 15 vacaion days and 10 holidays total. And no, I don't work 8 hours days, and neither do most people in my office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Um, public interest lawyers and social workers and folks working at nonprofits typically don't get well --- just like teachers --- except teachers get better health benefits and pensions. And teachers have sick days and other leave (my friend stayed home to watch the royal wedding!)(and my son's teacher has taken off a bunch of Fridays and Mondays this year for mini-vacations). I'm sorry, but $90k for 10 months of work (less than that really since they get off two weeks for Christmas and spring break) seems like an AWESOME salary (especially when you factor in the cadillac health benefits (um, $10 co-pays -- no deductible) and pension).

Well, I have to agree with you. I'm a teacher but in Prince George's County. I have a Master's degree, 9 years' experience, and would earn a salary of about $60K were I working full time. Even with 20 years' experience, I don't think I'll hit 90K there. So no, I don't think 90K is a "low" teacher salary, at all.

I would agree as well - I am a FCPS teacher. 11 years experience, Masters' Degree, and I make $65,000/year. Maybe I need to switch to MOCO! As for the pension, I am not sure what people think teachers get these days, but it is nothing like it used to be (i.e. 80% of your highest salary or whatever it was). In FCPS, that ended about 1998. We do have some sort of pension, but it is nothing like that and we are encouraged to contribute to our 403B as well. Health benefits are still very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FYI, MC teachers get 10 sick days and 3 personal days each year. If your "friend" stayed home to watch the Royal Wedding, then she used a personal day. If your son's teacher has taken off "a bunch of Fridays and Mondays" this year, then she too is using her sick and personal leave. Is it possible your son's teacher was out because she was attending meetings or a training? Are you certain that she is going on regular "mini-vacations"? I have a hard time believing the administration would let this happen on a regular basis.

$90k for 10 months of work (less than that really since they get off two weeks for Christmas and spring break) Do you work 8 hour days? I don't. It is not unusual for me to physically be in the school building for 10 hours each day...and then of course I have work to bring home and work to do on the weekends. If I clocked my working hours I would bet they compare to the 12 months you work at your job. Most people have absolutely no idea how many hours teachers actually spend working.

So, the 13 days are in addition to a week at Christmas and a week at Spring Break, in additional to all the holidays. Plus 2 months off in the summer. I don't begrudge teachers all of their time off, but I don't think they realize how petty their complaining sounds to many of us in the private sector gets 15 vacaion days and 10 holidays total. And no, I don't work 8 hours days, and neither do most people in my office.

Most teachers I know do not take 13 days off of school a year. Like other places, you earn those 10 sick days throughout the course of the year, but you don't actually use all of them (they do roll over which is nice). This year, I have taken my 3 personal days and maybe 4 sick days for either myself or my kids. Any teacher will tell you it is sort of pain to take off - especially when you get sick suddenly - you have to make lesson plans, get materials photocopied, and hope you get a sub who can control the class and teach what you ask them to. This is not fun when sitting at home throwing up with norovirus!

[Anonymous]

For those of you who think that teachers have a sweet deal: How about this for the new superintendent? Is this fair? Or is this excessive?

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/pdf/Starr%20Contract%20Final%2051011.pdf

25 vacation and 20 sick days.

A car, and we taxpayers pay for gas and maintenance.

$250,000 a year plus $35,000 of deferred compensation.

$30,000 to move here (or more, if he needs it).

It seems to me that this is way out of whack with the public and private sectors.

[Anonymous]

25 vacation days, I don't begrudge him.

20 sick days is awfully extreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:25 vacation days, I don't begrudge him.

20 sick days is awfully extreme.

He's gonna need em. Mo co parents and the BOD are going to make his life living hell. Now, if he can just get on the parents side them we're good.