Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 years old and have never had more than 2 weeks off in a row in my life. I've had law jobs that probably had 3-4 weeks of vacation a year, but nobody took that much. 3 weeks off in a row yearly, plus all the other holidays, is worth at least 20K to me annually.

and your point is?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$50k is nice, but it's hard to support a family in this area without another income. It's ridiculous.

The salary is a bit misleading because of working 9 months. take the salary divide by nine then times 12 is the real salary, that ls not including the gold plated health and ension benifits.

Here are the "full" months we teach - Sept.through May. And then we return the last week of August and work three weeks in June. That would be TEN (10) months.

NOW do you understand?

Furthermore, the $50K is for the TEN months. Even IF teachers work that last week of June, all of July, and three weeks in August, how much do you think they'd possibly make?

You're not very smart, are you?

I was a teacher in South America.
My salary was the equivalent to US$ 2.30 per hour. In this it's factored already time grading papers and lesson plans. We're paid by class taught (50 minutes each) so no paid summers or short days.

Anonymous wrote:My friend with a Master makes $100k+, middle school special ed in MoCo.

MoCo teachers might be the best paid in the area.

My friend with a masters in special ed makes the same but she's an asst princ. at a middle school. Maybe it's the same friend? Once you move into admin you start making that kind of money, not the teacher though.

Is this for 12 months or 9 months? If you were paid for the full 12 months would that make a difference? Also, I know you put in easily hours upon hours of work grading and writing lesson plans but do they consider the short school day when factoring in salaries?

Anonymous wrote:To those of you who say that the time off in the summer is unpaid: IT'S NOT.

You get an annual salary that includes those weeks off. Your compensation is annual -- so that time isn't unpaid.

Come on.

So think of it this way... it's a 9 week furlough.

I am employed as an elementary school teacher. My annual income is $50K. That includes a 9 week involuntary furlough. So if I worked those weeks at the same salary scale, I would earn $60K a year.

If you are a hard working lawyer, government office worker, etc., and you earn $60K a year, would you be willing to give up 1/6th of your income to take 9 weeks of unpaid leave -- must be during July and August? Or would you say, thanks but no thanks?

Anonymous wrote:To those of you who say that the time off in the summer is unpaid: IT'S NOT.

You get an annual salary that includes those weeks off. Your compensation is annual -- so that time isn't unpaid.

Come on.

Hey idiot - my salary is based on me being a 10 month employee. There are 2 classifications in MCPS - 10 month (teachers) and 12 month (admin). The summer is UNPAID. Which is why I am free to find another low paying job at a local camp.

To those of you who say that the time off in the summer is unpaid: IT'S NOT.

You get an annual salary that includes those weeks off. Your compensation is annual -- so that time isn't unpaid.

Come on.

Some thoughts on teachers as Teacher Appreciation Week closes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/opinion/time-to-show-your-teacher-some-love.html?_r=1

The last letter is especially apt for DCUM readers, where there is a glut of lawyers.

My friend with a Master makes $100k+, middle school special ed in MoCo.

MoCo teachers might be the best paid in the area.

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone twist your arms or hold a gun to your heads to make you become teachers? First person to raise your hand, let me know.

I really don't see where teachers are complaining. I think you need to be pretty happy in your job if you are sticking around with such a low salary.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 years old and have never had more than 2 weeks off in a row in my life. I've had law jobs that probably had 3-4 weeks of vacation a year, but nobody took that much. 3 weeks off in a row yearly, plus all the other holidays, is worth at least 20K to me annually.

So go for it. Be a teacher.

You know, as a non teacher, I want to punch all of you people who criticize teachers. Most of you would not last a day at this job. You're the same folks who fret and whine about being the parent of one or two children.

THANK YOU TEACHERS!

To those complaining that teachers should choose another profession, then who will teach your children, and do you really look down upon teachers? I work at a child care center and all of my parents have been really nice and warm but it makes me think, after this thread, that it is fake.

Not a teacher but to all those bashing the complaining, do you realize how undervalued teachers are. They do it bc deep down they feel rewarded.
My mom started out as a teacher, by the time I was 5 she was principal, got her phd, became superintendent by the my hs years. I knew every positive and negative of the education system. She really missed being in the classroom but said it wouldn't support the life we were accustomed to even with my fathers 6 figure salary. She cautioned me to stay out of the school system if I wanted to make any money. When I was in hs calc class and she realized my tutor was making $90 an hr she devised a plan to open a tutoring/college consulting biz when she retired. Unfortunately, she passed away 2 yrs later unexpectedly. I am living her dream, opened her biz and wish she was around to work it with me.