Mark,

I found your conclusions interesting but incorrect. The average family of 4 pays $298 per month for health care, not the $500/mo you stated. That would be a benefit of $3576 per year, not $6000.

However, there are many common benefits available to the average worker that are not available to educators.

For example:

1.Paid Vacation...the average worker with 10 years with a company averages 16.2 paid vacation days. Let's say a person makes $50000/year. That equals about $200/day assuming 250 work days. That benefit alone is worth $3240 per year.

2. Paid holidays...There are at least 8 paid holidays per year and at $200 per day,that benefit is worth about $1,600 per year.

3. 401(k) match... at a 6% match on a $50000 salary that benefit is worth about $3000 per year.

These 3 benefits, which teachers do not have, are worth about $7840 per year vs the free health care many teachers receive which is worth about $3576 for a net benefit of about $4264 that a person in private business would receive that a teacher would not receive.

Most realize that school districts also contribute a matching amount for a teachers state retirement plan(out here about 9% of pay). So based on a $50000 salary that benefit is worth about $4500 per year for a teacher.

So when all is said and done,things work out about even. But, as I have stated numerous times, teachers receive far lower pay and benefits than equally educated professionals in other fields. Not complaining, just stating facts.

But the main perk for the general public........we take your kids off your hands for 7 hours a day.