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Schoolteachers and college professors are the backbone of the American culture. For most people these are the people that start the education process for children and adults. Though parents do an extreme amount of work and a certain amount of teaching of their own to their children, it is plausible to think that the majority of the educating process falls on the shoulders of the degreed and certified educators. Many feel that teaching is a career that is easy and free of stress and complications. For this reason people often think that the rate of pay for teachers should not be little or nothing. As an educator I truly believe that the salary for teachers and professors, as well as the benefits offered by school districts and state legislators needs to be greatly increased. Recently in the news we have all heard of the problems many school districts have been having concerning raises in teacher salaries. One article entitled, “Low wages may drive away the good teachers”, discusses a student that was a junior in high school and because of his admiration and appreciation in his high school history teacher, he was sure that he wanted to become a schoolteacher. “Sadly, though, the moment became bittersweet when I asked him if he would come back to Ridgecrest after he graduates from college, and teach here. His response was quite negative. Why? I asked. In his words, “Not the way our school district treats it’s teachers”.” (Terry Pierce). This is a sad, but realistic fact that many future educators, as well as the veteran educators are feeling unappreciated and neglected. Veteran teacher Shelley Mason’s salary last year was only $100 more than that earned by teachers just graduating from college. She had been with the school district for 11 years, teaching special education students. Not only did she have a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s degree, as well. “It’s discouraging to watch a first-year teacher come in and make virtually the same amount of money I have spent the last 11 years working to get to” (Mason, 2000). Last spring she resigned and accepted a job with the Green Valley Education Association, and for the first time in Mason’s teaching career, her yearly salary will be greater than $30,000. Many school districts and administrators blame the decreasing wages of teachers on the fact that student enrollment is low, which in turn means that the funding received from the state will be low as well. In comparing the average salary of a few states and a few counties within certain states the low pay is astonishing and also incomprehensible. For instance, two years ago Iowa legislators set Iowa’s starting salaries for teachers at $23,000. Iowa’s average teacher salary now ranks 35th nationally at $34, 927. Recent college graduates are being enticed by other states with starting salaries that are equivalent to or surpass Iowa’s statewide average.
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