Attached is a controversial picture that I have seen floating around social media. Teacher salary has been a popular topic within the last few years. The picture states, “We’ll take the glorified babysitter rate”. Nowadays the average dollar amount for a babysitter is around ten dollars a child per hour. Teachers have been sharing this photo and saying that they deserve more pay. The average teachers salary is around $58,000. With the school districts providing the bare minimum supplies for the classroom, teachers must go and buy majority of their supplies on there own. There is a huge gap in the pay grade compared to the amount of time, work, and effort these educators are putting in. Educators are preparing our future, future lawyers, doctors, every career! Yet, teacher salary is amongst one of the lowest paying jobs. Educators are such an important part of society but their pay does not reflect it. Buying supplies for the classroom, and other things to create a healthy and comfortable learning environment for the children can become pricey. If teachers presented their classrooms with only the supplies provided, I guarantee academic achievements would not be as high!
In August a close friend of mine got a job as a second grade teacher only a week and a half before school was beginning! She was very overwhelmed so I offered a helping hand. Due to her behind hired late, they did not have any materials for her yet. We walked in the classroom and there was nothing but her desk, and the students desks. She went out to the stores and spent well over five hundred dollars on materials for the classroom, bulletin boards and so much more. Teachers end up putting so much money out to provide for their students to ensure they get the best education possible.
I strongly believe that teacher’s salary needs to higher. The picture speaks for itself, how is that a “glorified babysitter” can make more than a teachers salary. Educators are preparing the youth for the future, but yet when a college student says they want to be an educator people are quick to shoot the idea down due to the pay. Granted, a job isn’t always about the pay, it’s about doing something that you love but how do you continue to do something that you are passionate about and not get compensated for the work that you are putting into it.
Attached is a link of an educator discussing their concerns as well. It further supports my point very well.
https://sethnichols.org/2018/05/17/why-teachers-are-walking-out/
Brianna's Education Journey 