You Read My Mind

I know, I know....I post articles from The Atlantic all.the.time. That being said, it's easy and entertaining reading - and oftentimes, they hit the nail right on the head. When I read this article, I was literally sitting at my computer saying, "mmm hmm", "YES!", and nodding my head incessantly the entire time.  The question posed in the subtitle ('Is there a way for teachers to make more money and advance in their careers without leaving the classroom?') is something that's been lingering in my mind for a long time.

Teaching is unlike many other professions, in that there's no ladder to climb. You're in the classroom and that's it, unless you decide to pursue another avenue in education. Yes, there's a pay-scale increase based on years experience, but it's no secret that teachers are so, so, so inadequately paid. I'd actually be interested in learning about why this is the case. The fact of the matter is, it would take quite a revolution and billions of dollars for this to change (a welcome revolution in my book, though!).  People my age are currently spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on business and law school because they know that eventually they'll not only be making enough to pay off all of that debt, but they'll also be making a lot more on top of that. And that's frustrating. I can think of many friends and acquaintances that would make incredible teachers. They possess the love for children, the strong worth ethic, and the desire to make a difference. Again, though, money talks...and unfortunately, teachers salaries aren't even the volume of a whisper.

Truthfully, I have no idea how long I will be in the classroom. I can tell you this, though - if I knew that I could live comfortably on a teacher's salary for the rest of my life and successfully tackle all of those financial roadblocks that will continue to pop-up, it would be a no-brainer. I'd be in the classroom for forever. I love my school, the county that I work for, and the profession - I just wish that we could come to the realization as a society that motivated and invested teachers are invaluable, and should be treated as such.

And so, another virtual pat on the back to all of my teacher friends near and far - there's no way that you can survive in this job without actually loving what you do. You'd go crazy! You push through the blood, sweat, and tears (literally - have you ever had a kid bust a bloody nose all over you? it's not fun....) to brighten the lives of so many!

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PS. Please don't get me wrong - I'm well aware that there are other people out there doing incredible things outside of teaching. I just think that for a profession that is such a critical component when it comes to molding our society, teachers deserve an income that is reflective of that notion.