Teacher pay in South Carolina falls behind, contributes to teacher shortage

[TexasTowelie]

Suzanne Billings had to take on a few extra jobs early in her career. At various times she worked nights and weekends as a waitress, sales associate and security guard at a gated community.

That was all while teaching full time on weekdays in the demanding environment of an elementary school.

It's not a unique story in a state where wages for educators have fallen behind national and regional averages, and where, according to state education officials, a teacher shortage threatens to grow worse in the coming years.

The state's current average teaching salary of $48,769 is about $2,200 less than the 16-state Southeastern average and almost $10,000 less than the national average, according to the Southern Regional Education Board, an Atlanta-based nonprofit funded by states in the region.

Read more: https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/education/2018/03/30/teacher-pay-south-carolina-falls-behind-contributes-teacher-shortage/395599002/

[Rhiannon12866]

1. When I was in college, there was an excess of students who aspired to be teachers

After all the school shootings and the resulting stress and controversy, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a shortage no matter what the salaries are - which were never generous.

[whathehell]

2. As long as the Right continues their war on government..

this will continue. Their doner base doesn't want to find public schools, you know.

[BigmanPigman]

3. Teachers are still considered babysitters and get

very little respect or pay due to it. 50+ hour weeks, non stop testing, student loans, overly protective parents, bureaucracy/money BS, large classes, etc don't make the profession very attractive. It has always been underpaid since women are the majority and the theory has been that women will work for peanuts due to their compassion. Compassion doesn't pay the bills.
https://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/2/21/948224/-

[pazzyanne]

6. You speak the truth, PigmanPigman!

Been there done all that. I remember being out on strike in 50 + below zero weather the two weeks below Christmas because we had not gotten a raise or a contract for 4 years.

[safeinOhio]

4. Is there any comparisons of teachers pay

school of choice/betsy devoss type schools and public schools? My bet is that they are paid even less.

[safeinOhio]

5. found this @ thoughtco.com

Pay
A private school teacher can find many pros and cons, but pay may be the biggest negative. Private school teachers generally earn less than their public school counterparts, with teachers at parochial schools at the lowest end of the salary range.

Teacher salaries at private schools come out of student tuition. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, private school teachers on average earn $10,000 – $15,000 less than a comparable public school teacher.

[BigmanPigman]

7. When I was starting out teaching there were no openings for 2 long years.

I subbed over 160 days a year in many districts and spoke to tons of people waiting for a single offer. Since there were too many teacher schools in my area jobs were scarce until they did class size reduction. I checked out private vs public schools then charter schools came into vogue after I did get a contract.

The pros of private school is that the class sizes seemed to be smaller and you didn't have all the bureaucracy of larger districts. The pay is lower though and you do not good benefits and there are no unions for support. I was always under the impression that the kids were better behaved but it is not true. Sometimes private schools are the last resort for problem kids who get in trouble for behavior and burn their bridges at public schools. The parents send them to private school but since they are paying the big bucks the kids are allowed to stay there and the teacher has to deal with the behavior issues.

Charter schools vary so much and this is bad. There is little regulation and standards from the state. They also have high teacher turnover. My friend went to a charter school and was the teacher with the most seniority in only 5 years. He had hoped it would be better than regular public school and it wasn't. Charters are as good as the staff. Also, certain students benefit while others don't...it depends on their personality and is they are self motivated, work well with others, etc. Some aren't prepared for college when the time comes either.

[llmart]

8. So. Carolina teacher pay has always been comparatively low.

So have teachers' salaries in most Southern states. Teachers in the North are oftentimes unionized.

[appalachiablue]

9. Privatization for Profit thru destruction of public schools & colleges is the goal.

We don't need no government schools! No $$ in that, and forget those pesky teacher-troublemakers!

They promote private charter schools, religious schools, homeschooling- anything to take down public schools.