100% agree that the good teachers deserve to be paid, there are far, far too many however that aren’t in it for the right reasons.
Indeed. Of staff I have worked with, over 30% I could pencil out as not fit for the job. That's significant number. 30% I would consider as exceptional. I've let go of 4 teachers past 12 months and you can see
immediate change; the unions in the West can be an extreme hindrance for change. But without unions, you would need strong moral leaders to guide.. but strong leaders are tied to policymakers and that leads to politicians and that's .... rabbit hole.
The Globe and Mail does a weekly column called "Financial Facelift", which by and large is people who disclose their personal financial status and get advice on their retirement plans.
Check out this one from late March:
Can Lucas and Shelby afford to give $100,000 to each of their kids for a first house?
For those who don't want to give the G&M any clicks, I'll summarize:
- Lucas and Shelby are teachers who are going to retire next year at the ages of 55 and 54 respectively.
- Their pensions will pay them a combined $125k per year.
- The present value of their combined pensions is $2.6M.
Read that last point again... $2.6M present value.
Lucas and Shelby are extremely wealthy by any reasonable standard.
Indeed. Some are paid handsomely.
Let's compare different professions, though, and let's imagine they are near the best at what they do:
Hockey players: 12 mil per year.
Teachers: about 1.3 million after 30 years of service.
Think about which is more vital for society, if both are at their best.
Also, if you think 2.6 is extremely wealthy for 2 people after 30 years of service in this economy I unno what to tell you, lol.
When I get home most days, I have no energy but to sleep. No energy. School owners and presidents beg me to take the summer offs to rejuvenate. Or whatever I get of the summer as administrator.
Side note: school administrator in North America is single most gruelling occupation. Basically 50-60% raise in salary and 200% the work.
My colleague co-attended a conference of superintendents in the States and he said it was a horror show. They have to grow trees from dead seeds(resources given to them).