[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Jazuela

1. I'm not a teacher.
2. I got my information from the government website that lists the actual salaries of teachers.
2a. The yearly salary is yearly, including days off, holidays, sick time. That is their total paycheck compensation. They also get a 401K, which used to be a pension but that was taken from them. They get medical benefits but have to contribute to them. They also pay out into the union, and they are NOT reimbursed for expenses such as school supplies and advanced educational courses and required certifications.
2b. My mom was lucky, and was in the school system when they had a full pension and full medical care for life. That no longer exists. But she is not eligible for social security, because as a state employee at the time, teachers were exempt from paying into it.
3. My mother spent 30 years of her life teaching elementary school, and I was the observer of all the other stuff she did outside the classroom - including helping her organize her papers for her master's courses.
4. The same CHANCE as every other kid. No not every kid will succeed. But every kid should have the same opportunity to succeed as every other kid. No kid should be denied the opportunity to thrive just because they live in the wrong neighborhood, have the wrong color skin, or have the wrong accent. Same opportunity - same quality of education, same funding. Their ability to thrive is up to them and their upbringing, but their ability to TRY should be the same, regardless.

Well said.