I have taught for 8 years. Some great, some well.. not so great. Some years I have actually thought about joining corporate America. Then I have had some years, like this past one, where I cried saying goodbye to the thoughtful and intelligent 6th graders I had supported and nurtured all year long. I loved these kids and I loved helping them learn and become better versions of themselves.

I see teaching as like many other jobs- I love it half the time and the other half I wish I were home with my kid! I continue in this job for the days when a parent tells me of the difference I have made. I continue to teach knowing that I may impact at least one kid each year. I DON’T stay for the money. But to be honest, it shouldn’t be news that us teachers make crap pay. We spend 40 hours a week with your children and I made more bartending… But, in the words of my father-in-law “it is what it is”. I joined this profession and did not do so blindly.

I know Joc quite well and I believe that she has respect for what I do and cannot imagine she would ever think as a teacher I am on a permanent vacation.
However, I have boasted that in my 8 years I have fine tuned my art of teaching so I take home minimal work. That doesn’t mean that I don’t ever work on a weekend. In fact, it is August and I spent most of last week in my classroom cleaning and reaarranging. Come December I will spend hours at night and on weekends on the phone with parents and kids in regards to our school musical. But I do get all of July and August, a week in Spring and two in December all to myself, my husband, and my son. I am guaranted weekends and if I need to, I can be home by 3pm everyday. It is nice to know that when my son is in school I will be there to pick him up from the bus stop.

Do we live on the Plateau? No. We couldn’t afford it. We do live in a great, young community with amazing neighbors and friends and I am home with my son after his afternoon nap everyday. Could I ask for more? Sure I would love a pay raise? Who wouldn’t? What a silly question!

As far as comparing a surgeon/ER doc to a teacher…are you being for real??? Of course I would rather be treated by a doctor who practices for the love of medicine…who wouldnt??? But the reality is that most people get into that profession for the money. The same can’t be said about teachers. Besides, I’d feel better knowing that my heart surgeon had a BMW parked out front and a lakeside cabin versus having a ‘84 Honda and renting a studio apartment in the ghetto. A good doctor is going to command a better salary.

Lastly, I think you missed everyones point. Its pretty clear that the article writer seems to be in a pretty good situation and that she wanted to pursue teaching “because she could”. No one is/was attacking her lifestyle. I’m sure that if she is happy with what she has, everyone here is happy for her. What stood out to me was that it seemed as if she wanted to do it for the money.

Who do you want teaching your kids? The teacher who wants to make a difference in your kids lives? Or the teacher who just wants $100,000 per year? Cause I can say that this article probably wouldn’t have been written had the adviser told the author that average salaries for teachers in their first year was $75,000. Not to “lead on” that the author is all about money, as again, it sounds as if she is doing pretty well for herself…I’m just pointing out that this was written because of money.

The aurthor admits she was ignorant to the real salaries of public teachers. Why are you attacking her current lifestyle and still under the assumption that is what the article is about? The aurthor states the minimum it would take to get by, the minimum. Can you read? I think the little sister has some jealousy issues along with being a bit insecure about herself.

The average Joe, please you are average at best. I like your skewed numbers to try to make it appear teachers are making bank. But lets be real, did you forget to subtract school supplies out of the teacher’s own pocket books, student tutoring after school, grading papers and preparing lesson plans? Lets not also forget teachers are required constant certifications and more schooling which also comes out of their pockets. I find you to be a complete hypocryte. Let me ask you, would you refuse treatment from your surgeon or ER doc because they were not practicing for the pure love of medicine, but atucally only practicing to pay off their cabin on the lake and BMW parked outside?? Please, we all know how you would honetly answer that!

Lastly, this site is cute and the articles are sweet. But come on, you need to offer something to get the readers in. Give us more of your opinions,sell me on somthing talk trash or sex. I found this article to be the only worthy of leaving a comment on. Until you revise this site, the only people I could refer here would be my teenage daughter and my 76 year old mom.

#4 This brings up another point that was brought up in our discussion that my sister just happened to leave out. People don’t typically become teachers for the money. They do it because they have a passion to educate our youth….the foundation of our future. If you were a single parent with 3 kids you would probably choose a different profession or find a way to live within your means on a teacher’s salary. Is that unfortunate? Definitely…but again that wasn’t the point we were trying to make.

#5 When I made the comment about Teachers not working after hours…that was really a generalization on my part…which I probably should have made clear. My best friend is a teacher and she is the first to admit that her workload and daily schedule is different than mine…being in Corporate America. She is typically in at 7 a.m. and home by 3 p.m. with no work on the weekends or after hours. Of course there may be times she is required to work additional hours. Additionally, she has learned to manage her time by working straight through her lunch and free period to ensure that she can leave her work “at work”. But again my intention was not to imply that she doesn’t work hard each day and her profession is any less worthy than mine. She is an amazing individual to be able to do what she does each day for our children. I know I could never do what she does and I appreciate her commitment to our children’s education. And for the record…I don’t ever remember saying, nor do I believe, that being a teacher is like “being on a permanent vacation”. Again, just trying to provide some clarity to a conversation taken completely out of context.

#6 Yes…I know this is long winded…I promise this is my last point. In regards to the comment about being jealous I think that it is rather unfortunate that this person doesn’t know me. If they did or knew my friends and family I think that it would be obvious that I am very fulfilled in my life. I am so fortunate to have recently sold my home in a nice neighborhood and have the opportunity to build a new home in another beautiful area. I am in no way ashamed of the amazing life I lead. I’m so thankful that I have a great career and the ability to provide for my family. And most of all I am so blessed to have a wonderful family that is happy and healthy. My intention was not to give off the impression that I have underlying feelings of jealousy or resent for Plateau Housewives. Quite honestly the only housewife I know on the Plateau is my sister and I think she has a tough job being a stay at home mom and have nothing but the utmost respect for what she does.
Okay…that’s my final thought. Phew…maybe I should write my own blog…I apparently have a lot to say:)

I think she is being a bit naïve in saying she didn’t realize pay scales for teachers…doesn’t she watch the news? Every year there is another strike in another school district because of teacher pay. Because of teacher pay??? Are you kidding me? You work 9 months out of the year. You never have to work on a weekend. You have probably never worked past 5pm a day of your teaching career. Spring break, winter break, snow days and “parent/teacher days”. What “corporate America” job has that kind of a schedule? Now I’m not saying that a teacher doesn’t work hard. Again, I’ll repeat that because I think someone will miss that I said this…I’m not saying a teacher doesn’t work hard. I’d hate to put up with 30 snot nosed kids…but that’s what they chose to do.

Lets look at the money. In a perfect world, we’ll assume an 8 hour work day (especially for an elementary school teacher because they have lunch breaks and recesses to use to do their “home work”) and a 9 month schedule. On $33,000 a “year” that amounts to $22.92 per hour. On $40,000 a “year” that amounts to $27.78 an hour. Of the state maximum $75,000 that the author mentions, that is $52.08 per hour. Not bad for a teacher who gets three months off during the summer…who of you out there would love to be paid $52.08 per hour and get 12+ weeks of vacation every year? You don’t have to worry about checking your blackberry after hours…no business trips…no corporate BS. Not bad if you ask me.

The bottom line is this, and I think your dad and sister would agree in my saying that you don’t become a teacher to make money and support a family. If you’re a single mom and have three kids, would being a teacher be the best option? Probably not, unless that is what you dreamed of doing, but then you would find a way to adjust your life to live within your means.

I understood the writer to be talking about the minimum it would take to get by with a family. Housing, car, food and the basic needs of a family. It is my understanding that it would be near immpossible to support your children, daycare expenses, food and other stuff on the above amounts of money.

I think someone above is jealous…but that is just another housewifes opinion….

I think you are still not seeing the point….and honestly I don’t think you can ever truly understand because of the life you’ve had. Maybe joining the workforce will open your eyes to a whole new world. I’m not trying to be rude…but I think you would have a whole new perspective if you were surrounded by working people all day long that don’t live on the plateau. I think Kia was right when she said you live in a bubble up there…but I don’t think you’ll take my word for it because I’ve never lived up there.

You made the comment “It was pointed out that they would not live in my neighborhood (which is nice but certainly nothing fancy), they would not drive my car (a minivan) and they would not have the things I do…”

That just makes me laugh out loud how you can downplay your life so easily, without actually hearing what you are saying. You live in a beautiful neighborhood that is in a rather exclusive area. No…it isn’t Clyde Hill…but come on…it’s definitely a well above average neighborhood. And…you’re right a teacher may have to buy a dodge caravan…rather than a brand new Honda Odyssey with a DVD player and all the perks…I don’t think that is so horrible.

You’re also right…teachers aren’t going to be able to afford your neighborhood on one salary alone…but quite frankly neither could I or 99% of the people I work with. That doesn’t make us poor….it’s just a fact of life: we can’t all afford the nicest neighborhoods, the best commutes, or the biggest homes. That really has nothing to do with being a teacher. Again…most single parents aren’t going to be able to afford to live the life you lead or the life I lead for that matter. It’s a fact of life.

When it comes down to it…I wish teachers could make more…but I also wish nannies, babysitters, etc. made more…but the money has to come from somewhere. And quite honestly I don’t feel that bad for them. What I would say is… maybe you need to look at what a teacher makes per hour and compare that to what I make per hour…or the people I work with….Cuz at the end of the day when you add in the time we spend on the weekends, on vacation, etc. checking our blackberries or answer emails from our laptop our hourly rate doesn’t seem so great anymore and may even equate to less than a teacher. Not really sure though I haven’t actually done the math…nor do I think I want to:)

Just my two sense though….