Why are teachers paid so poorly in the USA? (Page 5)

Just to give you some numbers to work with in terms of your nine month time frame:

Teachers - work 195 days (in Nova Scotia)

Average Professionals (assume M-F for ease of math) - employed 365 days which include 104 weekend days, 9 stat holidays, 16 vacation days (after 10 years); actual days worked 236.

Therefore a teacher works 83% of the days that another professional would work.  Granted this is still less than an average professional but definitely not the nine months you would like to consider.

Shane

In the US there are 180 school days: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_days_are_in_a_school_year.

I am sure this is an average amount.

The average worker works 22 days per month x 12 = 264. Let's take the typical vacation (10 days) company Holiday (10 days being generous) and you are at 244 days.

Teachers have 64 more days off - that is 12+ weeks or 3 months.

Our school year is 190 teaching days (includes exams) plus 5 PD days; the school year varies slightly throughout NA but it ranges from 180-190 teaching days.  Depending on the board, district, etc there will be other days the teacher is employed.

I am not arguing that teachers work as many days but to suggest that an average professional works 12 months a year and teachers only work 9 is disingenuous.

Also, I would be surprised to learn of many professionals who only have two weeks vacation.

Shane

As mentioned I used 2 1/2 to 3 months.

Also, I would be surprised to learn of many professionals who only have two weeks vacation.

Shane

I read this quote and knew you were Canadian before I looked....  Many American companies are pretty stingy with vacay.

Really?  Two weeks? 

We always hear how bad we have things compared to European countries; I didn't realize that two weeks would be the norm in the US.

How many stat holidays do you have (I realize it probably varies by state)?

BTW - I took the 16 days from the US Dept of Labor for the average professional with 10 years experience.

Shane

Indeed; however, you used 2.5 to 3 months and then state that teachers work nine months while other professionals work twelve. 

In actuality a teacher would work 39 five day weeks and an typical professional would work 47.  Obviously the teacher is employed for fewer weeks but the actual difference is eight weeks as opposed to the three full months you have indicated.

Shane

There are always conditions.....  one often starts with none, works up to 1, then 2 then 3 weeks....   but it is seniority with the same employer, not just 10 years experience in the business.  So in the world of lateral moves, few professionals stay with a company long enough to get the longer vacay packages.

I have 11 stat holidays which is more than most companies- probably to keep us equal to the Canadians as the company mothership is in Canada.  but also way fewer than federal employees.

The problem is the degeneration of the family.  Its getting divorced and abandoning the kids. Its working 80 hours a week to afford material possessions.  Its babies having babies.

We didn't have such a crisis back in the 50s...if only we could go back to where a parent stayed at home and GASP parents stayed together and involved in their kids' lives!!