This is "why" we teach . . .

This brilliant was post written by Brandi Martin who is an art teacher from Aurora, IL.

I've often wondered why those who vilify teachers and their unions because of the awesome "perks" we get, don't either go into teaching themselves OR start demanding these "perks" for themselves.

I know the answer to first question is that many who bash teachers, who think we have it easy and who think that we teach part-time, would never last a day doing the job that we have chosen.

Most teachers passionately care about the kids they teach. We knew going in that we would never be rich. We chose this profession because we wanted to make a difference, as trite and as overused as that phrase has become.

When those on the outside call for longer days & longer school years, I often ask if that means they are also willing to pay teachers more. At this point they start stumbling all over themselves & rarely do I ever hear them answer in the affirmative.

Even now as more & more districts are demanding of their teachers to shorten the school year through pay-cut days (aka furlough days), their proposals rarely include reducing our workload.

You know what that means, right?

While we work less days and receive less pay, we are expected to do the same amount of work.

Likewise, if we worked longer days & longer school years, Mr. & Mrs. Joe Public would still expect teachers to make the same amount of money.

So, again, I'll reiterate some facts for you regarding my own particular situation.

I've not "enjoyed" a pay raise in over five years.

Every single year, as our medical rates increase, my paycheck has become smaller. In 2008, I was paying a little over $300 a month (20% of my share of my benefits). Three years later, I'm paying over $600 per month (over 40% of my share that I pay for my benefits). These rates are expected to increase in January, 2012, which means that my December paycheck will be hit by this increase.

Those who decry my "pension," need to understand that due to the social security offset, I will receive a significantly smaller portion of my husband's social security if he dies before me. Most teachers, on average, receive approximately $3,000 per month from their CalSTRS benefit when they retire. We pay a portion of our salary into CalSTRS every single month.

Those who are drawing big paychecks from CalSTRS are usually those in administration and are often far removed from delivering direct services to students.

Yet, despite ALL of this luxury in teaching, I and my colleagues remain.