How Do You Live on a Teacher's Salary?

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kikus of AL 5:18PM June 12, 2010

No profession suffers neglect more than teaching. Teachers toil and sweat in the classroom but their efforts seem to be imprisoned by the high walls of the school.If there is any profession that is all encompassing, which involves imparting and impacting on young minds, continuing from where parents stop every week,discovering talents to be developed and showcased, it is the teaching profession.
The teaching profession, whether in the public or private schools is not all about the teachers duration of teaching, either forty or fifty minutes every period as the case may be or vetting the note-boks of the students. Often the teacher is the one who discovers that such and such students have talents for drawing or painting, making speeches,spelling e.t.c
Teachers salary in Nigeria should be upgraded.

jane okeke 1:09PM March 17, 2010

Teachers get paid the first of the month. They must be excellent managers of money as most goes out as soon as it hits the bank. House payment: $1200 Utilities: $250 Home telephone line: $100 Cell Phone: $200 Clothing: $100
Gas: $250 That already comes to a total of $2000. That leaves $500 for other bills like tithing to church, car insurance, car payment, neighborhood dues, leisure... It is sad that teachers do not have enough money to function when they devote their time, effort, and energy to help prepare our future doctors, lawyers, dentists, engineers to be successful. Most people think, "Oh, teachers have it made: they have summers off." WE do not get paid for those months, and we usually have to prepare our classrooms: pack it up, reorganize, and then unpack and prepare for a new year, run copies on paper we are now purchasing out of our pockets. We also usually attend workshops to gain knowledge to better prepare ourselves and our students. Could you live on a teaching salary? Granted we do not go into this profession for the money, but it would be nice to not have to worry about making ends meet.

Stacey Greenhaw of AL 10:44PM December 30, 2009

If you are having trouble finding a good paying job in America, move to another country. Asia is always hiring TESL certified teachers with little experience to teach for great pay! There are also many international schools, however, they only accept teachers with experience of a minimum of 2 years-they pay the best salaries.
That's if, of course, you are single or you don't mind moving your family to the other side of the pond.

Jamie of IL 3:32AM September 16, 2009

As a fellow teacher, I am not arguing about the lack of pay given to teachers because there really is no reason to argue - in my state, New York, we are required to have a Masters in order to stay certified.
I am, however, complaining about the number of educators who made comments about not being appreciated or respected and then making a bunch of typos in their comments. I can only hope when we have those e-mail and letter writing campaigns to the government, that we do not take such liberties in that form of communication - or else, how can we expect to be respected and paid better?

Ayesha of NY 5:49AM July 02, 2009

will all i hav 2 say is dat i really want 2 be a teacher because i love kids but i want 2 be a 5th grade tacher n im only n the 6th grade so yea but anyway yea n yes i lookin

brianna of MO 12:33PM January 29, 2009

I was doomed. Earning a credential during the Bush cataclysm was a nightmare beyond description. Every time I got close to earning my credential, they changed the rules. I taught middle school for 10 years in a very low income area. I raised scores but, more importantly, I changed lives. I didn’t need support. I didn’t need help. I did it alone. But what I really DIDN’T need was the relentless administrative pressure, federal, state, and district. Take this class. Earn this title. Do it on your own dime. And every time I turned around there was another politician, another administrator, who was rattling his public relations saber about the incompetence of our collective work. I’ll take my students’ love and appreciation with me as I make that hard walk away. After 10 years of unconditional success all I have from our leaders are student loans and a label that I am not “highly qualified.”
No wonder we have such high rates of anxiety and disease. No thanks. I’m finished.

J Coulter of CA 2:27AM January 23, 2009

Are teachers the lowest paid professionals who are required to have at least a bachelors degree? I think we might be. I believe that making about $45K in 2008 provides me with less spending power than I had in 1974 when I made $6600.I think the lack of respect for education points to a very serious weakness in our culture.

Pamela of 4:52PM November 23, 2008

In NY state, ALL teachers are required to have a Master's Degree. If you compare what teachers are paid to what others are paid with Master's Degrees, it is a sin.
Yes, we do have the option to take summers off in the field of general education, we still make a considerable amount less than our counterparts.
For "Hoplite,"
You think teaching is "just" teaching? Have you ever tried it? Please, if you haven't tried something, don't say "JUST!"
Every doctor, lawyer, or any person you find successful can tell you that they had a teacher who inspired them. Teaching is one of the most important professions. We mold people into who they are. Sit on that for a moment. SO the next time you feel a need to say, "Just Teaching," I want you to think about what you are implying.

Alicia Proctor-Szilagyi of NY 11:44AM November 07, 2008