West Virginia Teacher’s Salary Increased to $138,642.39!

A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions. —Oliver Wendell Holmes

Well, that is what it should be. Teaching is the most important position in society. After thirty-two years in public education, I speak from experience and cannot and will not be objective. Looking at a 2017 salary survey, West Virginia ranks 39th , Ohio 9th, Pennsylvania 5th, Kentucky, 17th, and Tennessee 38th. Considering the responsibility society places upon teachers, this is unacceptable!

Save the teacher puns. I have heard them all: “What’s the matter? Couldn’t get a real job! You only work ten months. Have the summers, holidays, and weekends off. You go home at 2:00 p.m.”— any many more. One time I became very angry with a neighbor in Virginia when he made a ‘Summer-off joke.’ I said, “Yeah, but I really don’t get paid for the summer. I’m at school by 6:00 a.m. Lucky if I leave by 5:00. Sometimes not until 10:00 p.m. At home, I grade papers for two hours, spend another hour on lesson plans, use my own money for children’s supplies. And then it’s time for family! Kiss my dog and pat my wife.”

I continued, “Vacations! When and if I do go on one: First part, I just breathe deeply. In the middle part, I try to relax. Toward the end, thoughts of lesson plans creep into my mind.” After picking up his ears, my neighbor just slithered away. A smart man never teases a teacher!

As I continued to edit and update my original story: The current proposed pay increase in the state legislature of 1% is an insult. That averages  to around $400 a year - $1.09 per day.

Rather than the current bill offering a 1% raise, I propose a true-life bill, based on the duties performed by most teachers. I refer to it as “The Hat Rack Bill” - representing the many hats a teacher must wear.

• Teacher hat: Teacher schools do a good job with subject matter but fail to provide education for other hats.

• Police hat: For breaking up fights, roaming the school and cafeteria (security), or taking away weapons.

• Detective hat: For finding the girl whose razor slashed the face of another (in school) over an “ex-boyfriend!"

• Social-worker hat: For when the teacher consoles a child covered with bruises, who speaks about the unspeakable?

• Attorney hat: A good friend and colleague from The George Washington University addressed our school regarding school law. Wanting to be well-informed, we asked how often he should return. His response was, “Weekly, with nightly updates for special-education changes.”

• Accountant hat: Beyond the grade book, there is attendance, fee collection, achievement scores, athletic eligibility, textbooks, equipment ordering—just for a start!

• Psychologist hat: When the fourteen-year-old boy who ran away from home two weeks ago didn’t want to go home because he felt safe in school! The teacher called his father, who couldn’t pick him up because he was working on his truck.

• Doctor hat: For the seventh grader who ran his hand through the window, trying to be helpful. Blood gushed from his wrist. The teacher applied pressure, adding bandage after bandage, until rescue arrived.

• Taxi-driver hat: Because a little boy’s mother was so involved with her life she forgot to pick him up after school. Frightened tears take forever to dry!

• Actor hat: It’s beside the Emmy and Oscar. No matter what is going on in a teacher’s private and personal life, the show must go on!

Time to justify the money! Remember the proposed 1%: Let us do the math, starting with the base of $32,000. Take 1% percent of the salary of a police officer, detective, psychologist, doctor, social worker, attorney, accountant, taxi driver, and actor—it comes to $138,642.39 a year. I added money for a stamp, so you could send a copy of this story to a member of the state legislature.

I make no apology if this sounds aggressive, because teaching is very near and dear to my heart. I vividly remember how difficult teaching can be. I just want it to be better for those who follow. Teachers deserve so much more! For the record: All the hats described above – those were just the ones I remember wearing over 32 years.

Without dedicated teachers, where would any of us be? Now, to our governor and state legislature, it’s up to you! Oh, before you put this story down, thank a teacher because you can read it.

Noting more to say!

That my friends and followers was a piece I wrote a few years ago, with some updating. I attended the rally held by local teaches protecting the paltry 1% raise. I talked with some of them. Took the time to speak with one state senator who was there, supporting a larger raise. It is time West Virginia, and every state for that matter, actually value teachers. To every member of the state legislature. "None of you would be where you are and what you are with out the efforts of dedicated teachers! Time to remember that."

From one former teacher to my colleagues throughout the state.."I stand with you and for you!"

And that's the way I see it,

Michael