Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2012 12:13:03 -0400
From: Michael Tucker
Subject: =?windows-1252?Q?Chatham_County_and_NC_Teachers=92_salary=2E_=2E_=2E?=
Let’s have a little fun.
Let’s look at some facts about teachers’ pay in NC. Students are required
to spend 185 days per year in classroom instruction. 365 days in one year
= 180 days teachers NOT teaching. Most workers deal with a work year of
261 days per year then you subtract holidays and vacation/leave. (When we
have a Leap Year, most workers work an extra day. Teachers get an extra
day off.) NC teachers work with a 10-month year. Most workers arrive at
our place of work and spend 8 hours plus time off for lunch (8.5-9 hours
per day). I am not sure how many hours a teacher must spend on the job
from arrival? 7:45-3:30 with at least one break for lunch? I am guessing
a shorter day for teachers than 8.5-9 hours? Of course some teachers give
more than the minimum as do some workers in every job. Students must spend
at least 5.5 hours per day in classroom instruction.
The median income in NC is about $45,500 per year. The average teacher’s
ANNUAL PAY is about the same even though the hours and days on the job are
significantly less. Some teachers earn less. Some earn more. Teachers
get paid WAY better per hour than the average working person with a lot
more time off.
Here is another stunning fact. Studies show ONLY 1 in 7 employees are
best fit to perform their job in all types of employment. That means 6 out
of 7 are good enough or average or mediocre, or not fit at all! Some
perform well despite their lack of ideal fitness. Other studies show 75%
of people HATE their jobs. How do you feel about your child’s education
now?
Here is another brain teaser. If the average classroom has 30 students,
and the average teacher is paid $45,000 plus benefits (let’s say a total of
$50,000), and the government says it spends $8,000 for each student, that
means a total is spent of $240,000 per classroom. The teacher gets
$50,000. Where does the other $190,000 PER CLASSROOM go? Many of the
buildings are paid up. The land is paid. The schools do not pay property
tax. The janitors and cafeteria people don’t make a lot of money.
Utilities don’t cost that much.
The problems with our public schools are not that teachers are not paid
well or the school budget is too small. The problem continues to be how
the money is spent.