How much should teachers earn relative to the local professional community?

Assume that the teachers are all 'typical', that they are teaching 5, 55 minute periods of 7th Grade students, work the standard 180-190 day teaching year, have an average level of previous experience, and have no special talents, abilities, or credentials. As individuals, during the interviews, they are average in all ways, and work at Average Public Middle School in Average Affluent American Suburb, where the standard of living is average. Assume for purposes of this survey that they are also receiving standard benefits packages with good pension, insurance, etc.

Total Votes	% of Voters	Female Votes	Male Votes	Unspecified Votes	% of Female Votes	% of Male Votes	% of Unspecified Votes	Average Age	Answer
..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	Teachers' salaries should put them in the bottom decile of local professionals.
..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	..	Teachers' salaries should put them in the 2nd to last decile of local professionals.
1	2.0%	..	1	..	..	6.2%	..	..	Teachers' salaries should put them in the 20-30th percentile of local professionals.
1	2.0%	..	1	..	..	6.2%	..	..	Teachers' salaries should put them in the 30-40th percentile of local professionals.
1	2.0%	..	1	..	..	6.2%	..	..	Teachers' salaries should put them in the 40-50th percentile of local professionals.
10	19.6%	7	3	..	41.2%	18.8%	..	40.0	Teachers' salaries should be equal to those of the rest of the professional community.
2	3.9%	2	..	..	11.8%	..	..	..	Teachers' salaries should be in the 50-60th percentile of local professionals.
3	5.9%	1	2	..	5.9%	12.5%	..	41.8	Teachers' salaries should be in the 60-70th percentile of local professionals.
2	3.9%	2	..	..	11.8%	..	..	..	Teachers' salaries should be in the 70-80th percentile of local professionals.
1	2.0%	..	1	..	..	6.2%	..	..	Teachers' salaries should be in the 80-90th percentile of local professionals.
5	9.8%	2	3	..	11.8%	18.8%	..	37.2	Teachers' salaries should place them in the top 10% of professionals.
7	13.7%	3	4	..	17.6%	25.0%	..	37.7	I have some other opinion on how much and/or how teachers should or should not be payed.

Rating Total Female Male Unspecified Average Age
Good 5 2 3 0 36.3
Bad 7 4 3 0 34.9
No Opinion 31 18 13 0 40.2

Rating	Total	Female	Male	Average Age
Good	5	2	3	36.3
Bad	7	4	3	34.9
No Opinion	31	18	13	40.2

Type Number
Abstainers 18
Male 16
Female 17
Unspecified 0

Type	Number
Abstainers	18
Male	16
Female	17
Unspecified	0

Qualifiers:
User Vote Comment
Matt reasonable
posted 27-May-2001 3:37pm

Kristal_Rose reasonable
posted 26-May-2001 10:39am
I see someone heading for OCPD, having been there myself.
Strider reasonable
posted 26-May-2001 12:06am

HareKrishna needs work
posted 25-May-2001 11:51pm
This needs: "I don't know", "It depends" & "Other" as options
juliw reasonable
posted 25-May-2001 6:50pm

Iseult reasonable
posted 25-May-2001 2:22pm

Maarten reasonable
posted 25-May-2001 1:52pm
Glad to hear I'm exempted!
Miaow old
posted 25-May-2001 1:12pm
Hmmm, just read your little spiel - I have lived in the UK for most of my life, also in Australia, and in Canada for the last three years. I wouldn't feel comfortable making such a specific judgment on anywhere except Canada, because that's the only place where I am familiar with the cost of living on a day to day basis, or really have much idea what everyone else is making.
Miaow old
posted 25-May-2001 1:06pm
That's much better! I'm interested in this now.
But "payed" should be "paid."
cody N/A
posted 25-May-2001 1:01pm
Don't get me wrong, there were some good suggestions... but there were a couple that seemed knee-jerk, and garden variety, that came out after having scanned it.

Although I did decide to change the survey to make it easier for non-americans, and I do agree that maybe it was too difficult for them before, but in response to a couple of the comments...

Its my personal opinion, and I am not being America-centric, (I am being REALISTIC about the world economy), that you (Yes, YOU), even if you live in another country, and ESPECIALLY, because you use the internet, should have a basic grasp on the concept of the American Economy.
I've got a basic grasp on the realities of all of the other English Speaking economies, and I would like to think that, short of currency translations, I could take a pretty accurate shot at the state of affairs in the non-english speaking countries.

Obviously, you can't expect everyone to know everything about every country in the world! That would be a pain in the ass, and probably impossible. I do, however, believe that you should know a little about the 4 or 5 more significant countries that surround your existence. And if you live in an english speaking country, or use the internet a lot, then we are talking, about America, Australia, Canada, England.

I live in America, but I can still tell you, with reasonable confidence, how I think things are going in Canada, England, and Australia. I can tell you the currency exchanges. (1 dollar=1.15 euro, 1 pound=1.5 dollars, 1 dollar=1.5 canadian dollars, 1 dollar=2 australian dollars). I can guess at average wages (20 thousand pounds in england=sturdy middle class. 10-15 thousand=a hell of a lot of people. 40 thousand= uppermost middle class.). I can even realize that it is probably higher in the southern-more regions. In canda, I suspect that schoolteachers earn about 35,000 starting. I suspect that in australia, teachers earn about 50,000 starting.
Am I off a little? Sure I am. Does it matter that much? Not really. The point, is that I have the most basic grasp on the economy of the other english speaking countries. I don't really know that much about South America, Africa, Asia, or Russia, but those are all UNSTABLE, INCONSISTENT, and (in some cases) small economies (well... maybe not Japan). I don't even know that much about Japan, to be honest, but I would go to a search engine and find out, before looking like an idiot admitting it. (I figure that Japan is very similar to America economically.). And really, to be true, America is one of the most (3 or 4) significant economies in the world, and on the internet especially, can't you just TRY to keep your eyes open?
Honestly, you REALLY have to TRY to be Naive about this country if you use the internet.

The people who live in non-english speaking countries are exempted from what I have said here, but you should still hold basic knowledge.
bcollins reasonable
posted 25-May-2001 12:58pm

darkshadowsseeker reasonable
posted 25-May-2001 12:52pm

cody old
posted 25-May-2001 12:20pm
I am wondering if many of you even read the question or explanation...
ASexyBabe old
posted 25-May-2001 10:41am
Not only would it vary from state to state and city to city but neighborhood to neighborhood. It would depend if the school was located withing the city limits. It would depend on how many homes are houses and not apartments because homeowners in my area pay extra taxes because of school levys that I am sure directly affect pay scales.
Miaow old
posted 25-May-2001 10:35am
Actually I agree with sequel - that could work. I still don't know whether this might vary from place to place though; maybe in some countries teachers are paid pretty well?
bcollins old
posted 25-May-2001 1:34am
Agree with the others.
darkshadowsseeker old
posted 25-May-2001 1:12am
WEES
HareKrishna old
posted 24-May-2001 10:43pm
wees
sequel old
posted 24-May-2001 10:26pm
I think this is an interesting question, but yes, you should find some way for non-USA people to participate. Perhaps use relative salaries, for example, "more/less than the average starting salary for a doctor", "more/less than an average salary for a plumber", etc.
ASexyBabe old
posted 24-May-2001 8:33pm
I have nothing to base this on I have no idea how much teachers make starting out. I am sure it depends on a lot of different things like the area and the people who live in the area the real estate prices. There are really to many variables.
Iseult old
posted 24-May-2001 8:18pm
Agree with natsim.
Miaow old
posted 24-May-2001 8:03pm
I agree with Natsim; this is much too specific. You could perhaps ask whether people think teachers are paid too much/ too little/ about right/ etc. Again this could really vary from country to country though. Either way, you should include "I don't know", "I don't care" and "Other" options.
natsim old
posted 24-May-2001 7:46pm
This is really difficult for people in other countries. How can we possibly know what the average salary and cost of living are in the US?
Your last option should read "...paid".

Last	Type	Created	Category	Creator	Sort	Votes	Hides	Rating
Last	single	27-May-2001	opinion	cody	unsorted	51	15	47.7%

User	Vote	Comment
Matt	reasonable	posted 27-May-2001 3:37pm
Kristal_Rose	reasonable	posted 26-May-2001 10:39am I see someone heading for OCPD, having been there myself.
Strider	reasonable	posted 26-May-2001 12:06am
HareKrishna	needs work	posted 25-May-2001 11:51pm This needs: "I don't know", "It depends" & "Other" as options
juliw	reasonable	posted 25-May-2001 6:50pm
Iseult	reasonable	posted 25-May-2001 2:22pm
Maarten	reasonable	posted 25-May-2001 1:52pm Glad to hear I'm exempted!
Miaow	old	posted 25-May-2001 1:12pm Hmmm, just read your little spiel - I have lived in the UK for most of my life, also in Australia, and in Canada for the last three years. I wouldn't feel comfortable making such a specific judgment on anywhere except Canada, because that's the only place where I am familiar with the cost of living on a day to day basis, or really have much idea what everyone else is making.
Miaow	old	posted 25-May-2001 1:06pm That's much better! I'm interested in this now. But "payed" should be "paid."
cody	N/A	posted 25-May-2001 1:01pm Don't get me wrong, there were some good suggestions... but there were a couple that seemed knee-jerk, and garden variety, that came out after having scanned it. Although I did decide to change the survey to make it easier for non-americans, and I do agree that maybe it was too difficult for them before, but in response to a couple of the comments... Its my personal opinion, and I am not being America-centric, (I am being REALISTIC about the world economy), that you (Yes, YOU), even if you live in another country, and ESPECIALLY, because you use the internet, should have a basic grasp on the concept of the American Economy. I've got a basic grasp on the realities of all of the other English Speaking economies, and I would like to think that, short of currency translations, I could take a pretty accurate shot at the state of affairs in the non-english speaking countries. Obviously, you can't expect everyone to know everything about every country in the world! That would be a pain in the ass, and probably impossible. I do, however, believe that you should know a little about the 4 or 5 more significant countries that surround your existence. And if you live in an english speaking country, or use the internet a lot, then we are talking, about America, Australia, Canada, England. I live in America, but I can still tell you, with reasonable confidence, how I think things are going in Canada, England, and Australia. I can tell you the currency exchanges. (1 dollar=1.15 euro, 1 pound=1.5 dollars, 1 dollar=1.5 canadian dollars, 1 dollar=2 australian dollars). I can guess at average wages (20 thousand pounds in england=sturdy middle class. 10-15 thousand=a hell of a lot of people. 40 thousand= uppermost middle class.). I can even realize that it is probably higher in the southern-more regions. In canda, I suspect that schoolteachers earn about 35,000 starting. I suspect that in australia, teachers earn about 50,000 starting. Am I off a little? Sure I am. Does it matter that much? Not really. The point, is that I have the most basic grasp on the economy of the other english speaking countries. I don't really know that much about South America, Africa, Asia, or Russia, but those are all UNSTABLE, INCONSISTENT, and (in some cases) small economies (well... maybe not Japan). I don't even know that much about Japan, to be honest, but I would go to a search engine and find out, before looking like an idiot admitting it. (I figure that Japan is very similar to America economically.). And really, to be true, America is one of the most (3 or 4) significant economies in the world, and on the internet especially, can't you just TRY to keep your eyes open? Honestly, you REALLY have to TRY to be Naive about this country if you use the internet. The people who live in non-english speaking countries are exempted from what I have said here, but you should still hold basic knowledge.
bcollins	reasonable	posted 25-May-2001 12:58pm
darkshadowsseeker	reasonable	posted 25-May-2001 12:52pm
cody	old	posted 25-May-2001 12:20pm I am wondering if many of you even read the question or explanation...
ASexyBabe	old	posted 25-May-2001 10:41am Not only would it vary from state to state and city to city but neighborhood to neighborhood. It would depend if the school was located withing the city limits. It would depend on how many homes are houses and not apartments because homeowners in my area pay extra taxes because of school levys that I am sure directly affect pay scales.
Miaow	old	posted 25-May-2001 10:35am Actually I agree with sequel - that could work. I still don't know whether this might vary from place to place though; maybe in some countries teachers are paid pretty well?
bcollins	old	posted 25-May-2001 1:34am Agree with the others.
darkshadowsseeker	old	posted 25-May-2001 1:12am WEES
HareKrishna	old	posted 24-May-2001 10:43pm wees
sequel	old	posted 24-May-2001 10:26pm I think this is an interesting question, but yes, you should find some way for non-USA people to participate. Perhaps use relative salaries, for example, "more/less than the average starting salary for a doctor", "more/less than an average salary for a plumber", etc.
ASexyBabe	old	posted 24-May-2001 8:33pm I have nothing to base this on I have no idea how much teachers make starting out. I am sure it depends on a lot of different things like the area and the people who live in the area the real estate prices. There are really to many variables.
Iseult	old	posted 24-May-2001 8:18pm Agree with natsim.
Miaow	old	posted 24-May-2001 8:03pm I agree with Natsim; this is much too specific. You could perhaps ask whether people think teachers are paid too much/ too little/ about right/ etc. Again this could really vary from country to country though. Either way, you should include "I don't know", "I don't care" and "Other" options.
natsim	old	posted 24-May-2001 7:46pm This is really difficult for people in other countries. How can we possibly know what the average salary and cost of living are in the US? Your last option should read "...paid".