Sarah.....how dare you use reason and logic to prove a point!What were you thinking when you wrote this? (tongue in cheek all the way)

As you have seen frequently in posts here, the 'I pay your salary with my taxes crowd" feel educators don't deserve a salary and benefit package commensurate with their education level and the importance of educating their children . They will say "I have the greatest respect for teachers and they deserve better pay, but" and after the "but" they proceed to chastise teachers, in the most degrading manner, for threatening to strike. As I posted last week, I compared PA to AZ teachers(where we can't strike) and the difference is astounding. This seems to prove the fact that without a strike possibility, school boards would pay just as little as possible and would give as few benefits and rights as possible. My teammate last year taught 12 years, had a BA, an MA, was certified in ELL and made....$39,000.(and is looking at a 3% reduction next year).

Using their twisted logic,I should write a nasty letter to the computer company complaining that the computer I bought is overpriced because my son, who works for them, gets free health care, free dental, free vision, and 4 weeks paid vacation and bonuses yearly. I mean, if I can't get that, then no one should, right?

Considering the fact that we are overpaid and have better benefits than most people, then why is it that almost 50% of teachers quit before their 5th year and of those remaining, 37% plan to stop teaching before their retirement because of low pay and stress?

Educators chose their field willingly,realizing that they will never be wealthy. We can live with that. But what we really get tired of is the constant drumbeat of those who haven't ever been in a classroom as an educator,but have all the answers.