Very depressing article to read. Despite tens of billions in surplus at the state level, Texas is hiring more and more uncertified teachers:
Texas public schools rely on uncertified teachers amid staff shortage (houstonchronicle.com)
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Isn’t the shortage mainly due to the fact that teachers are underpaid? They should be paid more really. Especially with having to deal with some of these nasty kids.
In fact, if they got paid well - doesn’t seem like a bad gig. Weekends off. Holidays off. Summers off too (unless they’re teaching summer school). Right?
They note in the article that Texas teachers are paid something like $9K below the national average. Other factors are at play:
New poll depicts plummeting morale among Texas teachers (houstonchronicle.com)
Also noted that there are issues retaining teachers, especially the uncertified teachers. I’m sure pay has something to do with that. But the uncertified attrition tells me that they’re not prepared for the job.
I’d bet the extra administrative stuff and high-stakes testing are also very frustrating to a teacher who really just wants to teach. I’m opposed to the end of year testing.
I’m interested to hear from some of the teachers on the board. It’s really an important issue.
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Its kind like getting scabs to fill in spots. But you have to say your going for certification and meet yearly requirements to get the certification. People without wont have the training, or observations hours but they’ll get hands on experience. Its not ideal but its better than not having the personal.
I believe teacher to student ratio is a big factor, teachers do better with less students per class.
Funny.
K-12 Teachers probably work 60-80 hours per week with grading and class prep outside of the in-class teaching plus any additional paperwork. Not to mention those that do not teach summer school get paid less than those that teach a full 12 months, if I remember right. I know college ones get less on 9 month contracts vs 10 or 12 months.
Nice to get summers off, but ever try taking a vacation in off-peak times (less crowded) like April or October and it is not an option for teachers.
A big part of the problem is not just pay, but the regimented teaching and lack of support, especially in larger districts. I have met many leaving teaching because they aren’t allowed to actually teach just do prescribed lesson plans, get no internal support vs parents, lots of work outside of class, student attitudes against school and learning (and again no parental support for learning), and various other issues.
I enjoy teaching (I teach college level), but have not considered K-12 because of the issues in many districts. Maybe if I lived out in the country side and not the city. Working on a graduate degree in education and did not even ask about getting certified at the same time. Don’t think it would make me a better teacher (I get good results from my students), just another waste of time certificate to please political agendas…
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My wife who is a lifelong teacher agrees with you. If the environment that they are in was in a corporate setting, HR would be worried about a hostile work environment. Even in the school districts where you would think the environment would be terrific, it just isn’t.
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In Japan and Scandinavian countries teachers are revered. The results speak for themselves.
If only teachers were revered like AR-15s are in this state … 
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I wish I could raise my kids in Texas.
Georgia and the rest of the SE is utter crap.
It’s the system’s fault
How does a teachers pay compare to the average income in Texas (non teacher)?
A lot of people think teachers get summers off. Well, they do, but they don’t get paid for them, either. Same as weekends and holidays. Of course, teachers put in a lot of work on those days they don’t get paid. Those papers aren’t going to grade themselves.
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This right here.
Well, why not? Right here in Houston, teachers are led by an uncertified superintendent.
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I think they are paid well for all the time off in summer and all the holidays. They end up with a pension and they catch up in pay if they stay vs private sector where uncertainty reigns.
I think the biggest issue teachers face is having bad kids and the climate in public schools. I think that is why they leave. The pay considering all the days off isn’t bad. A neighbor girl goes to Europe for summers / long time off. You can then work a part time gig in the summer for more money to catch up in pay.
What corporate jobs have all those days off and summers? Answer : none in the USA.
Now Europe corporate is diff with Germans having weeks and weeks off.
It’s a bunch of crap……great teachers are not being paid what they should.
We all thought we were getting a warranted raise last year from the state……instead both sides fought, added crap to bills, etc. and nothing ever got done….
Teachers are leaving left and right.
I can tell you on my campus we have 6 open jobs that other teachers/coaches are having to do the extra work to cover.
We have a couple of teachers( both coaches) that are not certified……they are obviously working to do so.
Many other campuses have many more spots that have not been filled.
The state HAS to step up or the problem will get significantly worse.
Lots more to say but I’ll leave it alone.
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Way more to it 007….
The pay sucks.
And if you coach it’s even worse.
I’ve gotten out of HS football….but when I coached football I made about $3 an hour.
Time I worked after teacher time was over and was paid to coach by stipend.
No one coaches for the money….it’s because you love it.
Preach
Here is a link on teacher pay. It ranges from lousy to pretty decent with 20 years experience. Nothing great. Also nothing that can buy a house early on.