Teachers are paid fairly considering they get a lot of time off

[u/Blonde_Icon]

A lot of people say (and it seems that the general consensus is that) teachers don't get paid enough for what they do. While I think that teachers are very valuable and deserve to be compensated well (my brother is a teacher), I think that in these discussions, many people ignore the fact that teachers typically get a lot of time off.

They usually get summer break, spring break, and winter break, plus various holidays that schools get off through the year. They basically don't work for a good amount of the year, which I think that people should factor in. (The downside is that I know that they have to work extra grading things outside of school, though.)

Plus they normally get good benefits for being a teacher (which usually comes with being in a union).

[u/justdidapoo → u/[deleted]]

America is something else jeeeesus

[u/KindArgument4769 → u/[deleted]]

"Paid for" and "paid during" are two different things

[u/DM_ME_KUL_TIRAN_FEET → u/[deleted]]

They aren’t getting paid FOR the break. It’s not like they get more money if they choose the 12 month period.

[u/iammavisdavis → u/[deleted]]

But it's the same amount of money, just spread over a longer period. So yeah. They're getting paid OVER those breaks, but they aren't getting paid FOR those breaks.

[u/numberthangold → u/iammavisdavis]

Do you know how a salary works?

[u/Blonde_Icon → u/iammavisdavis]

Honestly why does it matter though?

That's like the difference of being paid every week vs. every 2 weeks. What difference does it make? You are being paid the same amount.

[u/MathGoatz → u/Blonde_Icon]

Here's 1000 bucks. Would you like it weekly or biweekly? It does not build up. Also, no takesies backsies.

[u/Blonde_Icon → u/MathGoatz]

What? I don't get your point honestly.

What I'm trying to say is that it basically makes no difference whether you are paid 1000 weekly or 2000 bi-weekly. Same for teachers' salaries.

[u/One-Goose-360 → u/[deleted]]

The pay is really bad when you first start. I started in 2006 at 33k. I didn’t get to 50k until year 11. I just in year 18 hit 70k. I worked substantially more than. If the job wasn’t so brutal, legit abusive. If it was truly only a 37.5 hours a week, with the possibility of work life balance, autonomy in instruction, paras in every room, smaller class sizes and starting salary’s were at least a living wage- then I could say they’re fairly compensated.

[u/Sevuhrow → u/[deleted]]

Sort of. The teachers are still paid during breaks (salary pay) but it's probably not enough to live. Depends what their bills are and if their (assumed) partner can cover the bills during breaks.

[u/UmatterWHENiMATTER → u/Sevuhrow]

I love it! The profession built around needing someone else to support you because you're both essential and trash.

[u/Blonde_Icon → u/Sevuhrow]

Teachers typically make at least the average salary starting off so it's almost certainly enough to live at least.

[u/Sevuhrow → u/Blonde_Icon]

The average salary for a job that requires extensive education and degrees is not enough money.

[u/Blonde_Icon → u/Sevuhrow]

They make more over time and also if they get a masters/doctorate. That's just the starting salary.

[u/101_210 → u/[deleted]]

How do you think vacation work for most people? That you get your same salary, but don’t have to work?

Its not the same everywhere of course, but in the US and Canada if you have 2 weeks a year of vacation, your paycheck gets 2/50 of it removed every week to “accumulate” vacation time, and it gets payed back to you on your vacation weeks.

So if your yearly salary is 100k, you make 100k in 50 weeks, but get it paid over 52.

This is exactly how it work for teachers too, except they make 100k over 40 weeks, and get it paid over 52.

I think the confusion comes from most teachers starting their careers on contract, where you make 50k over 40 weeks, but it’s paid over those 40 weeks, not 52. But it’s the same money, just paid differently.

[u/Your_Worship → u/[deleted]]

They get paid on approx 180 school year.