Original Post from 8/12/2010:
It's a shame that educators and social/human services personnel aren't some of the highest paid...no wonder the ills that are present in our society today exist! And no wonder we are in an American education crisis... Is it all about the doe or is it about making America better? "The education of this world is a failure because it has not produced the man that God desires." Min. Farrakhan
The jobs that are the highest paid may make one financially secure but are they helping make our Nation a leader among the world's nation's. And of our careers like teaching, social work, culinary arts, etc that are some of the worst paying jobs that those with exceptional talent and ability tend to stay away from those fields because "there's no money in it." Could this be the cause of a rapidly declining America in areas of moral and social responsibility, health, and education. I remember back in the day when being a teacher was a thing of nobility to sort of speak or being able take a "home ec" or auto mechanics class in high school were sought as skills of high value. Today those who may have the passion and gift for teaching and careers that call for some sort of service to the public seem to opt out for a more rewarding and less stresful career as mentioned above. The education and jobs that produced the skills and values that were cherished yesterday are nothing more than mere titles today. How can we increase the value of education and become a better society?
http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/110196/20-worst-paying-college-degrees-in-2010?mod=edu-continuing_education
7 comments:
I am glad I am not on the list LOL. This has been the same list since I was in school back in the 90's. Nothing new!
As a teacher I say, Amen!!!!!! Which is why I will not be teaching after graduation - this is a loss to the children that would have been in my class but a sistah has to eat.
We as a country need to stop resisting our passion for helping others dependent on income. We used to have passionate folks who allowed their passion for helping others, educating others outway the need for $$$$$......If the economy is so bad and jobs are hard to find, why is there a teachers shortage. While it may not be the best paying job, it's still a job! We need to get our priorities straight.
The average teachers starting pay is 32,000.00. I am from the Washington, DC area and the base salary to qualify for an apartment is 33,500.00, most teachers have many roommates, I was married. Supplies are not usually provided for teach...ers so we end up buying out of pocket anything we need and then...Students come to school and they don't have what they need, so we buy it (the good ones); notebooks, pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, calculators, hats, gloves, coats, shoes, food, tampons and pads, and I even bought sandwiches for the students who I knew didn't have lunch because their guardians did not fill out the forms for the lunch program. 1500.00 can be written off on taxes. My other vocation is that of a Minister (no income).
When you add the amazing pressure, threat of violence, and stree that most teachers deal with daily (we see the challenges of society and the results of it daily on the faces of our students and in there behavior and lack of interest) should we also have to bare up under the pressures of bills and robbing Peter to pay Paul. Teachers have to payback there loans from college just like doctors, they need to eat, have and raise a family, live in safe neighborhoods, and they deserve an occassional vacation.
It is sad that our system is set up not to honor positions of service. There is a trite saying, "It is what it is," but I guess as deflating as that sounds, it is true. When we choose our professions we must consider the capacity that it will have to sustain us as well as fulfull us. For the record our children lose when their teachers have part-time jobs and sometimes more than one. We still have passionate folk, they volunteer in their free time, they donate to organization that support folk like teachers, they campaign for better salaries but all people should be able to live well (whatever that means to them) without the verdict of being selfish or without passion rendered on their choices. They deserve the chance to be able to do better than just survive.
By the way there is a teachers shortage because it cost money to get educated, salaries and stress of the jump dont balance out, and the unreasonable expectation put on teachers along with the lack of support from the parents, community, and administration. The average teacher is teaching for 2-5years before changing professions.
I live in the DC area and I clearly understand your issues and needs. I however also am the daughter of an educator (30+ years) and I know the sacrifices that teachers have to make. My mother bought many a supplies and it definitel...y can be a burden but to continue to promote the bad side of teaching is very detrimental to the overall process. No system is perfect, especially the one in DC, with budget cuts and a Superindent that clearly is not engaged with the teachers, it is easy to understand your furstration. My hope is that qualified and talented teachers such as yourself just don't give up on the importance of having talented educators. There are programs that are in place both in my community and the surrounding communities that will assist teachers in housing. Of course there is a catch, you must live in a neighborhood that might not be the greatest. I have several friends who have taken advantage of grant programs for mortgages for the "teacher in the neighborhood" program. While it may not be ideal, it has afforded many the opportunity to purchase a home.
As for your reference to the shortage of being attributed to cost, I am not sure that I agree. Every state has begun to offer additional funds for those persons seeking to become educators. It just involves doing some research. My youngest attends college in Pennsylvania and there is a program that pays 100% for minority males who wish to pursue becoming educators. While you may owe service time that jurisdiction, it is a way to afford the education needed to become a teacher. I encourage anyone intersted in becoming an educator to pursue such programs. In addition PG County offers a training program towards certification if this is something that someone is missing. Once again you owe time (2 years) but its another way to reduce the cost.
Hi, follow DC: I grew up in PG County (Bowie). I would encourage anyone who wanted to teach to do so and if they asked me about it, I would tell them of the rewards and challenges that they will face - that is only fair and truthful. Yo...ur mother has made a number of sacrifes indeed and it is geting worse, that is the sacrifices that will need to be made due to the extreme cost of living. I have not given up on teaching. I am more effective with tutorial programs and on a college level at this time in my life. I have been called a bitch, and yes even swung on - I cannot catch a charge while trying to work. smile but true. I have former students whom I speak with even now and advise. I have them visit me and even encourage me as I am in school again for my doctorate. I have former students who have come back to thank me for tutoring them at my home, at their home, after school and for clothes and the like - Priceless. Every teacher needs to know that there is a burnout at some point because there are some days that are warlike and they need a break from the position to be effective. I have done my time (6yrs) in the classroom and I hope to my community, that is enough
FYI:
Yes there are programs to help people become teachers and it is not as forthright as they make them sound but there are many available.
Well... ya'll had a lot to say! Beautiful! When one decides to give their life to service it for sure isn't about the monetary rewards. One gets reward by helping other's and making the world a better place indeed! Nothing but love and deference to those who give their lives to services.
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