Thursday, May 28, 2009

Proof that teachers are underpaid

For those of you that don't know, I am a teacher...specifically a high school band director...ok...assistant, but same thing, i just have more free time...lol

Anyway, a friend of mine quit the teaching profession at the end of the school year. When she told me this, I figured she was going back to school for another degree or just needed some time off, since she does teach middle school social studies. That would make sense, right?

Well, that assumption was way off. She is going to work as a McDonald's shift manager. Why, you may ask? Well, turns out that she can make nearly twice as much there than she can teaching.

Isn't that sad? Teacher's get paid less than a manager at Mickey D's! WTF?!? Now, I don't know the exact figures, and each state and district is different, but in Louisiana, we are one of the lowest paying states for teachers. However, it wouldn't surprise me if this is a common thing around the country.

Too bad I never worked for McDonald's, though. Wonder how much a Sonic manager would make? lol

Seriously, how pathetic do you guys think this is?

7 comments:

Unknown said...

No way! That is so sad! How can someone get paid better to flip burgers than they do teaching and developing minds?
I can understand why she does go work as a shift manager though. With all of the stress being put on teachers to make the kids perform to pass a test, I wouldn't want to be a teacher either.

Unknown said...

I doubt we'll ever pay teachers enough, at least not in my lifetime. Of course, I believe that while teachers want better pay, they also would like more opportunity to TEACH. Too much time must be spent on paperwork, reports, discipline and all kinds of matters other than actual teaching.

Unknown said...

i think it is terrible! the focus on the education is what should be at the top of the list right now.

Ailurophile said...

You are right. I think this problem is prevalent in a lot of countries. I personally think that teachers have some of the most important jobs in a community. After all they are the ones who are responsible for the personal and professional grooming of every generation.

Sad. But hope the situation improves.

Lin said...

I don't know where you live, but here in Chicago suburbs, teachers earn a pretty penny. At our middle school, the annual salary looks low, but they work 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. And that is literally what they work--I see one or two teachers in my rear view mirror as I drop my kids at school--they are getting there AFTER the students. Try to catch them afterwards--GONE!! They are flying past me to get out of the parking lot. Our curriculum is ages old--the same tired projects have been done for the last 15 years. Those teachers work 9 months out of the year, a 6 1/2 hour day including their lunch break. I think they are earning what they deserve. Oh yeah--add in FREE healthcare--no deductible. I'd kill to have such pay!

I know that school is the exception--but there is a lot of that out there. Now the high school teachers in our district earn a pretty penny. Unions make sure they have a really good salary. And our band director earns every dime for the amount of hours that he puts in.

There are good teachers and bad--and they don't all put in hours after school hours. Tenure should be banished forever--there has to be a way to get rid of those horrid lazy butts.

Mystery Man said...

Kimberly- if i knew how they could get away with it, i'd tell you. makes no sense to me

Sherry- sadly, when teachign ebcomes a useless profession like professional sports is probab;y when we'll start getting the big bucks

PJ- Amen!

Ailurophile- indeed! priorities are messed up, though. why else would you get paid more for telling someone they have tocome in a nd flip burgers than teaching someone when WWII started, y'know?

Lin- I'm the sam way, as soon as the bell rings and the buses get out of the way, I'm out of there, too...unless it's a practice day, of course.

Anonymous said...

Don't believe her for one minute! The average McDonald's Shift Manager where I live makes between $18000-24,000 and supervises a min. of 75 employees!