A TX Teacher-Turned-Politician Wants to Pay Teachers More
A TX teacher-turned-politician wants to pay teachers more
James Talarico, a former middle school teacher turned politician, wants to pay teachers more. He left the classroom for a career in politics because he could not support his family on a teacher's salary. Now he's using his position to ensure teachers don't have to choose between a job they love and paying their rent. On March 11th he tweeted that he submitted bill HB3580, which mandates a minimum salary of $70,000 for every teacher in Texas. Why? He was tired of hearing teachers called heroes without being paid for it. We are too. It's time for a change and this is a step in the right direction.
Teachers earn higher salaries
For teachers, this is child's play. It makes no sense that college-educated professionals, many with advanced degrees, are paid low wages. There's no shortage of articles and research on how teachers work two jobs or can't afford to buy a home or pay off student loans. The numbers speak for themselves:
- Teachers earn 20 percent less than other college graduates with similar experience.
- Texas teachers' salaries are $5,700 below the national average.
- 40 percent of teachers have another job during the school year.
- 94 percent of teachers spend their own money on materials.
Why $70,000?
"Research shows that a salary of $70,000 to $75,000 is the basic income needed for emotional well-being," Talarico wrote. He suggested the state government could fund the increase with "a combination of federal funding, new revenue and cutting wasteful spending."
what teachers say
What his former students say
Politics aside, I hope we can all agree that ex-teachers "get it". Teachers shouldn't have to have part-time jobs or part-time jobs. And if they do, they shouldn't do anything more with their part-time job than teaching! Yes, it was a brutal year. But if this is any indication of the change ahead or what's possible for education, we are hopeful.
Also, check out the teachers' unions sharing their back-to-school recommendations.
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