Money Isn’t Everything

By: Roni

“You’re not in it for the money.” That is what people say anyway when you are studying to be a teacher. You take what you can get for the love of your children. However, are the teachers satisfied for what their making? This is not only important to teachers, but also for parents, school board members, and administrators that work toward the goal of high quality education for children that necessitates high quality teachers.

The Washington Post came out with an article in 2014 by Ninive Calegari, a former teacher, who founded The Teacher Salary Project that is working toward improving the salaries of America’s teachers (citation). Calegari claims that 92% of teachers buy supplies for their students that are coming out of their own pocket, and 60% have a second job. Her statistics show our teachers should not have to live like this because what message is this sending to those who want to join the teaching profession? Close your eyes and imagine if a teacher’s salary was doubled, DOUBLED. Calegari believes this will raise the standards for incoming teachers and dedicated teachers would not be so tempted to walk out the door and never look back. But increasing pay could close the window for new teachers.

Others argue that teachers do not deserve more pay. Jason Richwine, author of the Federalist, states higher pay will prevent teachers from wanting to leave and new teachers will have a harder time finding a job. Maybe the pay is not the problem, but administrators needing to hire more appropriate and high quality teachers. He claims the objective standards must be implemented to keep the qualified teachers coming and standard applicants out.

Teachers believe they deserve to be paid more because of the work and efforts they put into their career. This would seem to be a commonality between teachers, unless Richwine is right and the education field becomes intensely competitive. From the children’s standpoint, they may notice a difference in their teacher’s personality; a more happy, appreciative, and motivated environment when they are being paid more.  Parents may disagree with this notion because the higher salary could cause more money coming out of their pocket; it has to come from somewhere, right? Governors and administrators have to find where the increase of paychecks will be coming from. However, for the parents, administrators, and federalists that support our teachers, they feel this will overall be beneficial for their own children and bring the school in better academic standings because teachers are more inspired.

I call the question on whether teachers should be paid more or not.  However for now, we can support our teachers and promote a smooth transition for the next generation. Promoting a smooth transition for the next generation of teachers entails the new teachers are being welcomed with open arms, a mentor to give one-on-one collaboration on progression through the year, and support when needed. The National Association of the Early Young Childhood believes we need to think “where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going in the future” (Strader). To piggyback on Richwine, NAEYC believes future teachers should have student teaching experiences in working with a diversity of mentors, develop a professional development, and work with faculty advisors. When developing a plan for the future, while looking at where the teachers have been and where they are now could help shape the payment issue for teachers because they are being supported in other ways, like materials. Collaboration and constant input on fixing commonality issues with teachers, like compromising for the future could solve the pay. If teachers, administrators, governors, and parents create a plan to help build a more pleasant future, where there is compromise, this could be the answer in whether teachers should be paid more or not. Do not knock the idea of using Strader’s thinking until we try it. If something is being brought into the classroom for teachers without using their money, salaries may not have to be increased.

  

References:

Calegari, Ninive. Why teacher’s salaries should be doubled-now. The Washington Post. March 25, 2014. October 17, 2015.

Richwine, Jason. Why We Shouldn’t Raise Teacher Pay. The Federalist. July 24, 2015. October 17, 2015.

Strader, William. How can we support future leaders in early childhood education. NAEYC. May 23, 2015. October 17, 2015.