Poor Teachers

Study: Teachers well paid.
Union: Not so fast

Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Joseph L. Wagner Plain Dealer

Northeast Ohio teachers earn about 36 percent more than the average white-collar worker in the region, reflecting a national trend, a research institute is reporting today.

A study by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research says teachers in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties earn an average $38.36 per hour. The average white-collar job here pays $24.66 an hour. The study cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Cleveland area teachers are the highest-paid in the state, exceeding teachers in Dayton ($37.08) Cincinnati ($36.72) and Columbus ($35.67).

Teachers here exceed the national average by more than four dollars an hour. The report does not cover benefits such as pension, medical insurance and days off. Detroit clocked in with the highest hourly teacher wage at $47.28 while Greensboro, N.C., was the lowest among 66 regions with $21.67.

"It's a widely held belief that public school teachers are horribly paid," Greene said in a telephone interview. But, he added, "The facts are public school teachers make more than other professionals."

Greene said the report does not take a position on whether teachers are paid too much or too little. He said he hopes the document prompts policy-makers "to look at smarter ways to pay teachers rather than simply increasing it across the board."

Joanne DeMarco, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union, said the report is simply more teacher bashing and does not reflect the total picture about teacher pay. She noted the Manhattan Institute is a conservative think tank.

Her comments came during a break in the second day of contract talks with the Cleveland Municipal School District. Cleveland teachers have not had a raise since July 2004. More...

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This study shows why teachers pay should be tied to their performance. A performance audit of all our school districts is needed. We continue to throw good money after bad.

Demarco, president of the Cleveland Teachers Union, makes a lame excuse about the Manhattan Institute being conservative. How the hell does that play in when they are just comparing wages with other professions. Of course her remarks come up during contract negotiations.

The residents of Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio, need to stand up and say enough is enough. It seems all the under performing districts and teachers can do is tell us why they can't get the job done.

Well, in my opinion, we pay them to get the job done, not tell us why they can't!

These teachers are being paid more than nurses, engineers, architects, etc... and they are going to complain working 60-65 hours a week.

I am of the thought, you chose the profession, don't complain about the hours. Most people I know would be happy to work 60-65 hours a week at an average wage of $34.06 AN HOUR.

School funding does need to be addressed and we need to start with trimming all the fat from the administrations and demanding our teachers perform at the rate they are paid.

KING