Re: Teaching in Moscow...

["Archie" <archie@moscow.com>]

I have heard this argument my whole life.  Teachers knew they were getting into a low paying
career, so they should shut up and live with it.  My perception has been that this argument is put
forth by folks who don't understand because they  do not value quality education.  The argument is
based on the premise that there will always be someone who will staff the classrooms it for less.
They view education as daycare.

The fact is thousands of very good teachers have left because of low pay, and other did not enter
the profession to begin with.  Classrooms all over the country, especially in low income areas
(e.g. Idaho), are without teachers altogether or staffed with teachers without credentials.  That
is what this argument fails to understand.  It's not the individual teacher complaining about his
or her low pay, but a person who cares about kids pointing out that good teachers are not
appreciated, and they are leaving.

> This is the part that really confuses me.  The great majority of Moscow
> teachers are "maxed-out" on the salary scales due to years of service and, I
> understand, openings are really hard to come by.  Teachers obviously knew
> what the pay was when they started, yet constantly complain about being
> underpaid while staying with the job.  I just can't get over feeling that if
> it isn't worth it, quit it.  If it is worth it, quit complaining.
>
> Walter Steed
>