Oklahoma teachers again rallied at the capital Monday. While not as large as the gathering last year, still an impressive group of people showed up. The message I think was we are experts in our field and our voice should be heard before laws are passed. Of course teacher pay and compensation was also a big part of the rally and that is what really got most of the attention. The response seems to be there is no money.
I know there is a budget shortfall, I realize the price of oil is bad.
I also know that when the price of oil was high, as a state we did not
take advantage, and we tend to give everyone tax breaks. I also realize
our state legislators are the 15th highest paid in the nation, taking
in $38500 per year. That year consists of being in session for 4
months, five months less than those teachers. Keep in mind that does
not include any per diem they may get paid. Oklahoma teachers are 48th with an average of about $44,000. This figure can be slightly higher or lower depending on the source. There is no per diem pay for travel, summer classes, on-line professional development, extra hours spent planning during the summer, etc.
A number of my fellow teachers have advanced degrees. Granted most of us have stopped with a Masters degree but a few have continued on to earn their Doctorate degree. These are the same people that have second jobs so they can afford to take their kids on vacation, help one of their kids attend camp (sport camp, summer camp, technology camp) or other small extras that families enjoy. Oklahoma's average salary for teachers is said to be $44,126. This
means a number of those teachers have years and years of experience. I
am close to that mark and have 17 years of experience and a Masters. My
friend's daughter recently graduated from college with an accounting
degree. Never even interned as an accountant, so has absolutely NO
experience. Starting salary - $45,000/yr.
This week I was at my neighborhood weekly get together. I love my neighbors, they are warm welcoming people. As
talk turned to the kids and their future education plans, I suddenly
realized something amazing. Sitting at a table with ten adults, there
were 2 of us with advanced degrees. Both of us are in education, me a
public school teacher and the other owns a business that contract with
schools to work with special needs children. The truly amazing thing I
realized was everyone (including the retired guy) makes more money than
me, a lot more money.
I knew when I became a teacher I would not be highly paid. I did expect to be able to earn a wage to keep me in the middle class. Teachers teach because they love what they do. Those who don't love teaching are those people who teach for about five years and the move on. These people always put teacher on their resumes, because it looks good. No, it looks great. Who wouldn't want to hire a teacher? They come to work every day, sometimes even when they are sick. The work overtime with no expectation of extra pay. They can juggle three conversations at the same time, and change a lesson at the drop of a hat if the boss is having a bad day. They are well-educated, and have common sense! Believe me they have to have a lot of common sense or those kiddos would eat them alive! Oh and teachers rarely complain. Maybe that is our one big downfall.
My hope is that we start using our voice (voting voice). I hope that those non-teachers ask us questions and understand what it is we do everyday. I know teachers are priceless. Think of those people that gave you a spark, made you believe in yourself, truly believe you could do it. I bet one of the first people you named other than your parents was a teacher. I know mine was, so thank you Mrs. Stamp, Mrs. Kolasinski for believing in me, and than you Mr. R for making me so mad, I had to prove you wrong!
Sources:
http://www.newson6.com/story/15081983/tonight-at-10-oklahoma-lawmakers-among-best-paid-in-nation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/08/23/how-much-are-your-legislators-paid/)
