Seems we have another Einstein demontrating they lack the mental capacity to engage in a substantive debate of facts instead of relying on simple-minded hyperbole. My grass is quite green and my only problem is my hatred of pathalogical lies, how hard is that for you to understand?

It seems to me that DLB has some issues with teachers that run a little deeper that just having a problem with the NEA. S/he sounds a lot like the ones spewing out hate for GM workers. How is it people like this are always convinced that GM workers, teachers, etc. always have it easier than they do? As thay say, the grass is always greener.....

What offends me, gary with two r's, is the dishonesty of teachers' unions claiming low pay. It's simply a lie and I do not like people who lie. I did not become a teacher because I did not want to teach. I know so much about their pay and benefits because I use my brain and question the dogma instead of blindly believing an organization whose sole purpose is to strong arm communities into more money for less work. How difficult are these concepts for you to understand?

I think DLB should reconsider his or her position and perhaps ask him or herself the question, "Why didn't I become a teacher?" He or she tends to know all there is about the financial workings of the teachers paycheck and it, for some reason, offends him/her. Furthermore, he/she has the audacity to say find a 12 month job. If teachers make so much and receive such great benefit packages why didn't you, DLB, become a teacher?

I notice you failed to do my simple math problem to annualize your salary. It's very simple, you only work 3/4 of the year, divide $38,000 by .75 and you get $50,666.67 per year. Coaching is optional and low level assistants get little, if any, pay for their time and at least 90% of teachers don't do. If that's your situation, it doesn't count as working hours. If you're volunteering your time, that's your choice, get over it. And I'm not sure how you got stuck with Saturday, but most teachers don't work on Saturday. If you want the salary of a full-time professional, you should have picked a profession where you work a full year.
I have little doubt your health insurance is cream of the crop with low co-pays, low deductibles, insignificant premiums, and very tiny drug costs. And you undoubtedly have top-of-line vision and dental, and some free life insurance to top it all off would not surprise me. I would bet you get 10 paid sick days per year (again, annualized it equals 13.33) that you are possibly able to cash in if you don't use them. Please help me out if there is anything I'm missing and tell me where else these tax-payer supplied benefits exist.
And let's not forget the pension. Please, I beg you, tell me a job that I can work, what is it, 30 years, and retire with full salary. Graduate college at 22, start working at 23, retire to full salary at 53 and never work another day in my life, that's slavery if I ever saw it. And if that's not enough, I can wait 6 months and come back to full-time employment in the same system while drawing my full retirement benefits. If that's not an outlandish pension that is only a dream to the overwhelming, vast majority of the people, I don't know what is. Please, Norm, give me examples of the numerous career options where this retirement benefit is available.
Sure hate if for you, Norm, I know exactly what I'm saying. The only ignorance is the ignorance of the taxpayers that the teachers unions rely upon while spreading their propaganda. And let's not forget your ignorance of what it's like to work in the real world. My wife works at least 45 hours a week, often 50, at a job that requires a college degree, and she makes about $37,000 per year. Oh, yes, and she works the entire year, unlike you. If you want the respect of the community, don't treat us like we're stupid.

38,ooo for 9 months of work is not low pay.

It breaks down to $4,222/month. Or $136/day.

Even if you worked 10 hours/day (which probably isn't the case the entire 9 months) you'd still be earning $13.60/hour.

And you still have 3 months of vacation to pick up some additional income. You could provide day care, tutoring, etc...

So I'd propose that both Norm and DLB are incorrect. Teachers are not getting paid "very good pay" or "low pay," just average pay.

I admire your your willingness to put in the hours you do for the kid's...and the comments you get from others about your pay may be, if anything, LOUD. So, if you can, just look at things this way...steam is being vented out towards teachers at times. It's meant to be directed at school boards. As I understand it, teachers can have their pay spread out over a year and there is on occasion the reports of teachers going on strike because of what they feel is not enough pay or other benefits and THEN they say it's for the kid's. Lot's of people are finding out that a college education doesn't automatically get you a great paying job off the bat in any field. Everyone likes to make a half decent living no matter what they do, all you can do is take on the opportunities as they come along.
Their will always be greener astroturf in other stadiums.