Indiana Among Lowest In Teacher Recruitment & Retention

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Should surprise nobody...Finding a recent math, science, or special ed teaching grad is harder than finding a 5 star big man who wants to come to State. They can simply make more money and deal with less bull***t doing something else. Public ed is the backbone to any great society and it has taken a backseat for quite sometime now.
 
Yup, as a newer teacher (entering my 4th year now) I can say it's not a "gravy" job like it was back in the day. Between class sizes, kid behavior, work load, and all the other things that happen throughout a school day you are EXHAUSTED! And if you are like me (coach 4 sports throughout the school year and have a summer job working 60+ hours a week just to earn a respectable salary) your day doesn't end at 3:30 like your contract says. It ends at 6:00 or whenever parents finally pick up their kids from practice which could be 30+ minutes. Or on game days when you are still riding a bus at 8 o'clock at night.

It's a tough job and there are GREAT kids and families that you love interacting with and helping coach/teach them in both the sport and in life. But unless Indiana and the country do something about all the B.S. that teachers put up with on a day to day basis with little compensation, there is going to be a huge problem in coming years.
 
As devil's advocate, when the next economic downturn happens as it does every 8 years or so, maybe your state will be in a better place to weather the storm because in Illinois we will be bankrupt and there may be literal S*** hitting actual fans
 
treeman said:
Yup, as a newer teacher (entering my 4th year now) I can say it's not a "gravy" job like it was back in the day. Between class sizes, kid behavior, work load, and all the other things that happen throughout a school day you are EXHAUSTED! And if you are like me (coach 4 sports throughout the school year and have a summer job working 60+ hours a week just to earn a respectable salary) your day doesn't end at 3:30 like your contract says. It ends at 6:00 or whenever parents finally pick up their kids from practice which could be 30+ minutes. Or on game days when you are still riding a bus at 8 o'clock at night.

It's a tough job and there are GREAT kids and families that you love interacting with and helping coach/teach them in both the sport and in life. But unless Indiana and the country do something about all the B.S. that teachers put up with on a day to day basis with little compensation, there is going to be a huge problem in coming years.
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When was teaching a "gravy job"? When parents make their kids DO their homework, if not pay attention at least not DISRUPT the class?

What's a respectable salary in South Bend?

http://www1.salary.com/IN/South-Bend/Public-School-Teacher-salary.html
 

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Isn't this just a supply and demand equation? In a free market people look for a job or profession and say yes I am willing to work for that pay or no I am not willing to work for that pay. A few years ago in some areas nursing was a shortage area, hospitals began paying big sign on bonus, increased pay and offered better benefits. I think the shortage has started to decline now.

IMO many (but not all) choose education because it is a calling and money is lower on the list. I am great-full and thankful those folks exist.
 
4Q_iu said:
When was teaching a "gravy job"? When parents make their kids DO their homework, if not pay attention at least not DISRUPT the class?

What's a respectable salary in South Bend?

http://www1.salary.com/IN/South-Bend/Public-School-Teacher-salary.html
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I teach in a district near south bend, not in their corpration. But I clicked your link and it said the median income was $46,000 which doesnt sound bad. But those are the teachers that have been there for 15+ years, when they would give YEARLY pay raises based on experience. Salaries have been LOCKED in for the past 5-6 years, so if you are an experienced teacher its not that bad because you are making decent money. But the teachers at the bottom are stuck at the bottom with no hope of raises on the horizon. And just a FYI the average starting salary for teaching in NW Indiana is around $34,000
 
treeman said:
Yup, as a newer teacher (entering my 4th year now) I can say it's not a "gravy" job like it was back in the day. Between class sizes, kid behavior, work load, and all the other things that happen throughout a school day you are EXHAUSTED! And if you are like me (coach 4 sports throughout the school year and have a summer job working 60+ hours a week just to earn a respectable salary) your day doesn't end at 3:30 like your contract says. It ends at 6:00 or whenever parents finally pick up their kids from practice which could be 30+ minutes. Or on game days when you are still riding a bus at 8 o'clock at night.

It's a tough job and there are GREAT kids and families that you love interacting with and helping coach/teach them in both the sport and in life. But unless Indiana and the country do something about all the B.S. that teachers put up with on a day to day basis with little compensation, there is going to be a huge problem in coming years.
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I started in the classroom during the 68-69 school year and retired at the end of the 09-10 school year. I will let your "gravy" remarks pass, this time, because of your youthful ignorance. By the time I totally retired from the public schools of Indiana my career had stretched to 48 years--I had other responsi8bili8tes.. Each era had it's strengths and concerns. Many of them were very similiar; others were totally different. If you wish to continue this discussion please pm your phone number and we can talk. I'll make the call on my quarter. I remember what 4 years experience paid.
 
Sycamore Proud said:
Local schools wrapped up the spring semester after Memorial Day--don't remember actual day and started Aug. 1.
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i stand by my comment.

I might even go as early as May 15 all the way to Thanksgiving.....I'm partial to the football season part of the school year
 

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My mom was an elementary school teacher for 37 years, drove from southern Vigo Co to Clay Co every day for 37 friggin years because she never fealt like she could take a pay cut to come to Vigo Co especially (as many noted above) once she had all those years of experience. By the time every thing was said and done she was making really good money. The entry level pay is what's a freakin joke - under compensated and under appreciated.
 
Sycamore Proud said:
I remember what 4 years experience paid.
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I don't know what your yearly income was in 1972 but maybe you could enlighten me and let me know if you want. But looking back at past data is says it was about $10,000 for a teacher, so i'm going to use that. Here are some facts and figures I found and the price equivalent of what a beginning teacher made back then to now.

1972 Salary: $10,000
2016 Salary: $40,000 (this is still high for a beginning teacher)

1972 House: $22,550
2016 House: $188,900 (1972 equivalent $83,116)

1972 Car: $3,853
2016 Car: $33,560 (1972 equivalent $16,064)

1972 Gas: $.55
2016 Gas: $2.33 (1972 equivalent $2.20)

1972 College: $2,577 (public 4 year university, including room & board)
2016 College: $18,110 (public 4 year university, including room & board) (1972 equivalent $10,308)

And that doesn't even cover groceries, appliances, insurance, cell phones, internet, clothes, etc. Fact of the matter is, it's a different world out there and it is extremely difficult to build financial security these days for young people. I don't want to sound like the "spoiled brat" bitching about how the world sucks and keeping me down, because I was blessed to have VERY supportive parents to get me on the right track both financially and socially. But for a young person trying to make it on there own these days, it is damn hard.
 
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treeman said:
I don't know what your yearly income was in 1972 but maybe you could enlighten me and let me know if you want. But looking back at past data is says it was about $10,000 for a teacher, so i'm going to use that. Here are some facts and figures I found and the price equivalent of what a beginning teacher made back then to now.




1972 Salary: $10,000
2016 Salary: $40,000 (this is still high for a beginning teacher)

1972 House: $22,550
2016 House: $188,900 (1972 equivalent $83,116)

1972 Car: $3,853
2016 Car: $33,560 (1972 equivalent $16,064)

1972 Gas: $.55
2016 Gas: $2.33 (1972 equivalent $2.20)

1972 College: $2,577 (public 4 year university, including room & board)
2016 College: $18,110 (public 4 year university, including room & board) (1972 equivalent $10,308)

And that doesn't even cover groceries, appliances, insurance, cell phones, internet, clothes, etc. Fact of the matter is, it's a different world out there and it is extremely difficult to build financial security these days for young people. I don't want to sound like the "spoiled brat" bitching about how the world sucks and keeping me down, because I was blessed to have VERY supportive parents to get me on the right track both financially and socially. But for a young person trying to make it on there own these days, it is damn hard.
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I'm not looking for an argument either. I started teaching in January 1969.My contract for 1 semester was for $3,200. By 1972 it had increased to 6,550 for the year. I understand being shall be say "financially challenger". Is that now p/c for poor? It isn't easy now and it wasn't easy then. My only issue with your post is the "gravy" usage. And to remain my career, I had to complete a Masters Degree.

Let's go Sycamores!!!
 
Sycamore Proud said:
My only issue with your post is the "gravy" usage. And to remain my career
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Sorry, probably my dad's words coming out of me. He was a long time teacher----38 years, almost all being spent in a middle school. He just saw the changes happening around education and the darkening moral with co-workers and did not enjoy it like he did the first half of his career. He is one that would talk about the "good' ole days" and the way things use to be.
Power has been taken away from teachers and there needs to be a change because the future is very scary indeed for the field. I think that we can all agree that something major has to change or our education system will fail.
 

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