30 December 2008

No wonder

there's such a high turnover rate in teaching. I knew going into it that it was high stress. I knew I would take a pay cut, but I just crunched some numbers and found that I am making, on average, almost $800 less per month, after taxes than I was making as a dispatcher in Greeley. At that job, I sat at a desk and reacted things as they happened. After I got off work, I had no responsibilities. At my current job, I have to plan for hours before I go into work, then I have to go home and grade and plan after I get off work. For almost $10,000/year less.

...
...
...

Feel free to comment, but do NOT say "At least you get summers off." Seriously.

6 comments:

Jared said...

At least you have the ability to take a job at the Apple Store - there isn't one in Greeley!

Toby said...

I'll bet they pay better.

Anonymous said...

At least you.... Nahhhh.

At least it's rewarding right? ;-)

I've been the hubby of a teacher and came this close to being one myself. We understand. Keep at it.

Lorraine said...

so why do you want to be a teacher? why do you do it? why do you spend all that time preparing for less money?
cuz you want to inspire young minds the same way your favorite teachers inspired you in school! the kids are lucky to have you.

Timbo said...

Lorraine, no offense intended, but inspiring young minds is a small, though rewarding, part of the job. Very small. Compared to collecting and keeping organized stacks of papers, breaking up fights, dealing with uncooperative kids, worrying about CSAP scores, working overtime doing clubs, spending weekends and most evenings grading papers, developing and implementing new lesson plans, dealing with administrative demand, and any of a hundred other little chores, "inspiring young minds" just simply isn't enough to make up for not even having the time to get a haircut regularly. Idealism is what makes teachers, reality is what crushes them.

Anonymous said...

It seems you are upset with a decesion you freeley made. You knew what the pay scale was and what is required of you just like every other teacher who chooses this field. It is the law of supply and demand... Well kinda. There is no shortage of teachers so demand is low, although there is a shortage of math and science instructors particulary that teach higher levels, but thanks to your union requirements they can not be offered more money then english or history majors. Also you fail to mention the huge benefit of PERA as opposed to paying into social security. At retirement you will receive a very large percentage of your ending salary where many of us will not see a dime of social security by the time we reach that age. Also, I have to say it, when you break down the wage by actual hours worked taking into acct all the vacation time it is pretty good. Lastly I have heard the whining about working after school and before school starts and grading papers at home. Do teachers think they are the only ones who put in extra time. I constantly put in 10 hour or more days and work on projects through the weekend at no extra pay, just part of the job. In the end though you fully knew the benefits and demerits of becoming a teacher, either you regret it and you should change your field or you are just wanting to complain like many many other teachers out there.