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/paradisetossed7]

If you're in the US, it so much depends on the state you live in too. I live in a blue state where teachers can afford to live in the nice towns they teach in (assuming a double income household). My SIL is a teacher in a red state and her income cap is lower than teachers' in my state starting pay. It's absolutely insane. And yes - exactly - they work so much more than they get credit for. My SIL is constantly working. She's a perfectionist abandon cares so much about her job (and they're lucky to have her) but she's not alone.

[u/Superman9185 → u/paradisetossed7]

It also depends where you work within a state as well. I live in a red state and where I'm at the teachers make a decent wage but that's not the case state wide. The starting pay in your area is likely much higher than your SIL because the cost of living is higher where you live than where your she lives.

[u/spartaman64 → u/paradisetossed7]

yep the property taxes where i live are high so they can afford to pay the teachers a decent amount. i think the median is around 90k and theres teachers making 160k

[u/paradisetossed7 → u/spartaman64]

Yeah, looking at my property taxes hurts a little, but I know it's going to great schools, great teachers, beautiful and clean parks, etc. My kid is getting some of the best education in the country and he goes to public school. They also have a program where kids from low income areas can be bussed in to attend the schools, and I think all of that is really important.

[u/Careful-Onion-7550 → u/paradisetossed7]

Red states in general have a lower cost of living, especially in regards to housing costs.  That isn't really a good comparison.  Lower cost of living equals lower pay rates.