I never mentioned a DR because I did the research. Some dentist begin with only a 4 year degree . ( If they enroll straight into dental programs ) .Pharmisits don't go as long as my wife did. You don't have a clue.

Plus to prove YOU don't know what your talking about let us stay with public employees . Look up the high school football coach or basketball coach at some of the BIG schools that win state titles. Or think they could win them.

Salary, STIPHEN , expense accounts , Some or close if not OVER 6 figures. TRUST ME until you are employed by a school system and see what ACTUALLY happens you have no ideal the number of NON- teaching positions in each system that is pulling in 6 figures.

This was more than just the teachers. It was a raise for all State employees. They approved it all today. A 5% increase for everyone. So everyone from the teachers to the state troopers will be getting a raise. It was also about the heath care package. Which they now looking to rework. How many of the ones complaining, have to wear a fit bit and sync it with your insurance carrier to know how many steps or miles you walked today? That have to report going to the Doctor or dentist to get points so your rates don't go up. That you have to pay your deductible based on how much you and now your spouse makes. It needed fixed. no one ever said that they wanted to get rich teaching. But if you had to deal with the things that they do, I am sure you would have thought any amount of pay was not enough. Most could care less what their kids are doing at school, its a daycare service for them. To free them up to do what ever it is they do. We are in the bottom for most everything, except the pay for the clowns making the laws. They are 5th in the country and they can find money for them to get a pay raise most years. Then when they drag their feet and don't get anything done guess what. They get paid more to go into an extra session. I am betting that we have lots of new faces in the offices come time for it. one other thing. There was over 10,000 people at the capital this week.. no one was arrested, no cars burnt, no stores looted, no traffic blocked.

You are delusional. A dentist requires 4 years of undergrad, and THEN an additional 3 years of dental school. Youre thinking of a hygienist. And its a STIPEND not STIPHEN. Same with Pharmacists, 4 year degree, then 3-4 years of pharmacy school.

And please tell us where your wife went to college and what degree she has since apparently she has more college education than anyone ever in the history of the planet and stars.And you do realize that when we say 6 figures, were saying six figures before the decimal point, right?

One of the great things about living in America is that no one is forced to take a job they don't want. Slavery is illegal here in America. Teachers know what the job pays when they go into it. If they don't like the pay, teachers should get another job that pays more, like almost everyone else in the country does.

Teachers are needed, but there are plenty of other people who can teach at the current level of performance, of most teachers, who will work for the current wages. Wages for teachers would rise if no one would work for that pay.

Keith

It is a very good thing that the coal issue got resolved there should be very ample tax monies from the 10 of thousands of returning coal workers with their good paying jobs to raise the economics of the state so that this 5% is a walk in the park.

Bryce

I would rather have someone who is competent at teaching their subject and has common sense do the teaching than some overeducated better than who is more concerned with pushing their 'ideas and views' on kids.

A fair livable wage for the area you are in should be paid.

Fair livable wage?

For the appreciation they are shown, teachers and law enforcement would do well to just quit and go to another job and let the critics figure it out for themselves.

Most of the teachers I know would not do that to the kids. I know what you mean though.

X2 ADC and to add, most Law Enforcement I know and work with would never do that to a Community that they serve and live in.

B

I think its funny that someone trashes the very teachers that taught them to read and write while bragging on getting a masters or higher degree, you have to start with the basics, baby steps. Teachers are the foundation of our youth. You do realize that a teacher spends more time with our kids than we parents do and they influence these children. Yes there are bad teachers but there are also many great teachers out there molding leaders for tomorrow. I for one don't mind paying a little more for good teachers.

My wife was a teacher in VA, 15 minutes from the WV state line and VA teachers make 10K average more per year than they do in WV. WV pay is ranked # 48 of 50, and both states insurances are bad.

DFABBS

ANTIGOV

I don't support strikes. Nobody drafted them. They can quit any time they want if they don't like the conditions.

I don't feel that it is necessarily easy money, but for our area it is GOOD money. Some are cut out for or enjoy that work and are very capable, others not so much. I don't like to hear teachers crying about their income when they are in the upper third of income levels in an area.

I can honestly say that my college education was like kindergarten all over again due to my teachers not having prepared me in the slightest.

180 contract days... No teachers I know that don't work several hours of overtime, weekends, nights, etc... They only get PAID for the 180. They have continuing education they must do to keep their job as well. $$$ out of pocket for supplies, etc... You need to see the whole picture, not just what is on the surface.

They taught you to read, write, math, problem solving, socializing, etc... They taught you all you needed to know and then some to get into collage where you could choose the path you wanted to go down. Sad someone with a masters degree is unable to figure this stuff out.

You're spot on ADC. If teaching kids was all that "teaching" involved, there would be many more applicants vying for teaching jobs. I don't know of any teachers in our district that are in less than 3 or 4 committees that require after school meetings, not to mention IEP meetings, staff meetings, meetings with parents, curriculum work, grading done at home or after school. The list is a long one. The hours I get paid for are 7:45-3:30 but I can't remember the last time I left school at 3:30. They don't teach you about these sort of after hours obligations during college but if you think you can get a teaching job without these strings attached, you're badly mistaken. I'm not complaining, just stating facts that some may overlook.

I'm bias because I'm a teacher. But again, there are two sides to every story. Those that are stating the simplistics of teaching simply haven't walked a mile in their shoes. In the district I'm at, there were over 84 applicants for my job when I applied in 2010. There were well into the 100's of applicants for one teaching job in many of the larger districts or those closer to the suburbs. There was a shortage of jobs just after the economic happenings of 2008 and many of the "Baby Boomers" that had planned on retiring now had to work longer. Anyways, I was fortunate to land the job I did. Now, just 7 years later our district struggles to find qualified applicants. This past year our district had 2 applicants for 3 open elementary positions. We have a great staff, administration, community, etc. Our pay is comparable to other districts our size and location. It's just that people aren't wanting to go into teaching anymore. I know this is not unique to just teaching. Many professions are feeling the pinch. I'm not other people so I hate to theorize what they're thinking but it's a simple fact that at least in outstate MN, smaller districts are struggling to find qualified applicants. Again, no complaints from my end, I like my job as is and am content with what I have. It's an honest living that gives me satisfaction. However, if people think that the world of education is only going to get better and the return on students education is going to improve with less resources given (pay to attract qualified teachers to the profession) they're in for a surprise.

The chicken or the egg argument. There have been more resources given, and outcomes haven't improved and may have declined. So, do we continue to give more resources and hope the trend changes, or do we give less resources and perhaps explore other ways to educate our spawn?