[Vision2020] re: Logical Error! Letter to the Editor: Teacher salary article

[Don Kaag]

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Phil:

...On the other hand, some of us are pretty competent, and could do=20
anything we wished to, including making a lot more money doing=20
something easier than teaching kids.  I have had solid job offers which=20=

started at three times what I make teaching here in a little town on=20
the edge of the wheat fields in the Idaho Panhandle.

As for teachers' salaries in Moscow, Idaho, my brother, who lives and=20
works in suburban New Jersey, and is both married to a teacher and a=20
member of the local school board, tells me that the average teachers'=20
salary in his district is higher than the "cap" (10+ years of teaching=20=

and a Masters degree... after that, you can go no higher on the salary=20=

grid, even with a PhD, which several of my colleagues have.) on our=20
salary schedule, and that the highest paid teacher in his district, a=20
Chemistry teacher with 25 years and a PhD, makes $90,000 per year. =20
They also have a fully-district-funded medical plan and compensation=20
for any after school time spent on committees, meetings, chaperoning=20
school functions, etc.

When I finished my Masters degree in History, my major professor and=20
the chair of the History department both recommended to me that, based=20=

on my talent for research and writing and my performance in the=20
department, I apply to a PhD program and become a college teacher. =20
When I told the department head that I would enjoy that, but that I=20
thought I could make more of a difference in the world teaching kids in=20=

the public schools, he was so surprised he blurted out what I am sure=20
is the attitude of many college professors and the general=20
public..."But you're too smart to be a public school teacher!"  I will=20=

get my PhD for fun, after I retire as a public school teacher, because=20=

I still read extensively in my field and am fascinated with history.

I am proud to be a teacher.  I work very hard at it.  I look forward to=20=

going to work every day.  It is not an easy job, but it is rewarding. =20=

I love kids.  Working with them is a privilege.  And I know that I make=20=

a difference in kids' lives, because they come back and tell me so. =20
Former students, some of them from 13 years ago, are still in contact=20
with me, and come and see me.  I have made a difference in their lives,=20=

and hopefully for the better.  I set high standards and help kids=20
achieve them.

My wife, a college professor and administrator, semi-jokingly refers to=20=

what I do as a "public service position", because she makes more than=20
twice what I do, but she also thinks that what I do is important, and=20
is proud to be married to a teacher.

Regards,

Don Kaag

On Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at 10:19 PM, Cjsnightclub@aol.com wrote:

> Ted,
>
> =A0 I do not know of one single teacher that was *forced* at gunpoint =
to=20
> "choose" their profession. Granted, their might be some truth to those=20=

> who cannot do, teach.
>
> Phil
>

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Phil:


...On the other hand, some of us are pretty competent, and could do
anything we wished to, including making a lot more money doing
something easier than teaching kids.  I have had solid job offers
which started at three times what I make teaching here in a little
town on the edge of the wheat fields in the Idaho Panhandle.


As for teachers' salaries in Moscow, Idaho, my brother, who lives and
works in suburban New Jersey, and is both married to a teacher and a
member of the local school board, tells me that the average teachers'
salary in his district is higher than the "cap" (10+ years of teaching
and a Masters degree... after that, you can go no higher on the salary
grid, even with a PhD, which several of my colleagues have.) on our
salary schedule, and that the highest paid teacher in his district, a
Chemistry teacher with 25 years and a PhD, makes $90,000 per year.=20
They also have a fully-district-funded medical plan and compensation
for any after school time spent on committees, meetings, chaperoning
school functions, etc.


When I finished my Masters degree in History, my major professor and
the chair of the History department both recommended to me that, based
on my talent for research and writing and my performance in the
department, I apply to a PhD program and become a college teacher.=20
When I told the department head that I would enjoy that, but that I
thought I could make more of a difference in the world teaching kids
in the public schools, he was so surprised he blurted out what I am
sure is the attitude of many college professors and the general
public..."But you're too smart to be a public school teacher!"  I will
get my PhD for fun, after I retire as a public school teacher, because
I still read extensively in my field and am fascinated with history.


I am proud to be a teacher.  I work very hard at it.  I look forward
to going to work every day.  It is not an easy job, but it is
rewarding.  I love kids.  Working with them is a privilege.  And I
know that I make a difference in kids' lives, because they come back
and tell me so.  Former students, some of them from 13 years ago, are
still in contact with me, and come and see me.  I have made a
difference in their lives, and hopefully for the better.  I set high
standards and help kids achieve them.


My wife, a college professor and administrator, semi-jokingly refers
to what I do as a "public service position", because she makes more
than twice what I do, but she also thinks that what I do is important,
and is proud to be married to a teacher.


Regards,


Don Kaag


On Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at 10:19 PM, Cjsnightclub@aol.com wrote:


<excerpt><fontfamily><param>Arial</param><smaller>Ted,


=A0 I do not know of one single teacher that was *forced* at gunpoint to
"choose" their profession. Granted, their might be some truth to those
who cannot do, teach.


Phil</smaller></fontfamily>


</excerpt>=

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