I've been doing some remedial research. I dug up some interesting facts based on my own experience and that of some of my family.
School employees in my area work 185 days per year. Teachers have college degrees and make $35-50k per year. Their retirement is funded by state monies, but they can augment it by contributing themselves. They are not required to contribute anything for health care coverage. School employees generally have a work day of 8 hours 5 days per week.
I work in private enterprise. I work 260+ days per year. I also make $35-50k per year. I supervise 35-40 employees. Many of my colleagues of the same pay grade have graduate degrees. We pay more than $6200 per year for health coverage. We personally pay for whatever retirement we will eventually receive over and above whatever pittance Social Security will pay. We are obligated to at least 55 hours per week in the office. Most of us are 24/7 employees and must be available for call when not in the office.
It is my humble opinion that workers who work less than 260 days per year are "seasonal" employees. In my particular industry that means they don't qualify for ANY benefits and may not even be invited back for the next season.
I have taken some heat from some of my own family who are public employees for my post of yesterday wherein I criticized the public employees in Wisconsin for their short-sighted protests. They've been protected for too long. Yes, I have chosen my line of work and school employees have chosen their line of work. I chose full time employment. School employees chose part-time employment but expect full time pay and benefits.
Mr. Obama says everyone must be treated fairly. I'm guessing his definition of fair is not the same as mine.
Your research is poor at best. Retirement for teachers and all public employees in the state of Utah is funded by the government entity for which they work. The retirement system is maintained by the state, but not directly funded by it. You are also ignorant in comparing YOUR industry with that of education. Should you actually compare apples to apples, then you will discover a great difference between what teachers in the private sector earn, compared to what teachers earn in the public sector. This is honestly one of the few times I have ever heard of teachers being described as overpaid and underworked. How is it your definition of them as being such a reposit of lazy gluttonous people does not bear out when applied to a majority of teachers?
ReplyDeleteIt never ceases to amaze me that commenters will hide behind anonymity when they are slinging insults. What are you protecting yourself from? If you are indeed more informed, better with your research, and less ignorant than the blogger, why are you hiding?
ReplyDeleteKevin B Page
ReplyDeleteWest Jordan, UT
Happy?
Oh and as far as supervising...try supervising 35-40 kids (maybe more) who have no maturity, no experience, etc...and then add their parents on top of that! Plus so many kids nowadays are super brats (to put it mildly and you KNOW I'm not lying) and don't give a crap about school or anything else for that matter and the parents are even worse(with their perfect angel children who never do anything wrong). And there are no (or very few laws) desgined to protect them. Little to no harrasment protection. They have to sit there and take the lip and attitude from the parents and students and that's it. That's the law. You can't fire a student or a parent. Sorry that doesn't work. I'd put money on it that even though you supervise 30-40 employees, they are all adults, maybe even with some college education, and you have many many different opportunities for recourse if they don't do their job (homework) or don't show up for work or don't care when they are at work, etc, etc. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. Teaching is such a thankless job and it's only getting worse with society generally drifting to school being the substitute parent(s) and trying to deal with and fix and provide for everything that is not happening in the home. It's so tragic and so true, and it breaks my heart Jim, it truly does. So in some ways I'm all for more compensation for those in education, especially in Arizona. And what about parent teacher conferences, etc...those are extra hours too...and I know that teachers can be on call just like you...emails, phone calls, parents might not be able to meet or talk to you as a teacher anytime during normal school hours. I apologize for being so passionate about this, but I really am...I spent a mere 8 months working as a computer lab aide for an elementary school here and it was scary...that's all I can say. I just couldn't believe how bad school was. The teachers had it so hard but most of them are there for the kids and for the right reasons because, at least in Arizona, it is the most UNSELFISH and uncompensated job anywhere.
ReplyDelete-Julia (again)
THIS COMMENT SHOULD BE READ FIRST (From Julia)
ReplyDeleteHey Jim, In Arizona teachers make squat and their days are so long and requirements are so intense (and many times so stupid) it isn't even funny. They pay for their insurance and state employees (which I used to be one so I know this for a fact) now pay a MANDATORY 9.6% of their gross into ASRS (Arizona State Retirement System) no choice about it, even though we ALL know if you ain't retiring soon, you ain't gonna get ANY of it because it's going bankrupt...and I know for a FACT from my Mother's experience and several other teacher's experiences that you are LUCKY to work only 8 hours a day and they don't just work the 180 days that kids are physically in school. They are required to work additonal days. I don't know the specifics as I no longer work for the schools here, but they are definitely in school days that the kids aren't there...for me the days they do get off for Christmas, Summer, etc. probably barely even out to make up for the long days that they put in, ESPECIALLY when the kids are in school or the work they take home...this is not intended to be rude, but how much homework do you think they actually get to grade when they are in school with kids physically present? How many lesson plans get written? The requirements for lesson plans in Arizona are sickening...you don't even want me to go there...anywho I don't think that happens very much, so where does that get done? Home or before/after the kids are in school. Those are additonal hours that are not part of the "8 hours a day" that you think they work. I realllly don't mean to come off rude, but teachers, at least in Arizona, have it tough tough tough. With their four year degree, I was taking home more than a 4th year teacher while I was working at Ace Hardware with no college at all. Scary! I honestly don't know what is going on in Wisconsin, so I can't really comment on that, but I do know that at least teachers in Arizona (and I don't think it's a stretch to say this scenario is VERY similar in other areas) work their butts off and have to deal with so much more than what you think. It is the reason I will NEVER be a teacher (unless it's at a college level). Just wanted to share my knowledge/experience with you. I appreciate your blogs very much, but felt I had to put my two cents in here. :)
Julia Newlin