The Pros And Cons Of Raising The Salary Of Teachers

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Students are walking through the overcrowded hallways of middle school, talking about the upcoming test when they hear a teacher at his door joke, “Our salary is lower than an abyss.” The students understand this metaphor is a joke; however, every joke has some truth hidden deep inside its contents. The salary of teachers is a widespread problem in Tennessee and the nation. Teachers are drastically underpaid after working a minimum of eight hours a day, causing their low wages to become a main debate topic for the governor race in Tennessee. Gubernatorial candidates will say they will raise the salaries of teachers during their debates to become governor; however, it once again becomes a forgotten topic that our state does not change. Salaries …show more content…

However, the salary problem only means we lose the valuable and superior teachers we have now for the lower quality teachers. This dilemma leads to another main reason these salaries should change for the better. Salaries of teachers are making and breaking who leaves teaching jobs, and the school systems in Tennessee are losing more and more valuable teachers because of it. Based on an article called “We Are Losing More and More Good Teachers,” the Tennessee Education Research Alliance says in the article, “...top teachers are losing interest in the job because of low pay.” The departure of good teachers is causing schools to become worse and worse. The evidence clearly outlines the importance of increasing teacher salaries. The ratio of supply and demand for valuable teachers in school systems in Tennessee is completely unbalanced. Schools in Tennessee will lose their high spot in the education system because of it. A “Washington Post” article about teachers' salaries titled, “Why Teachers’ Salaries Should Be Doubled,” gives an example of one valuable teacher who left her job because of the low pay. Katrina Colon, who won a “Teacher of the Year” award, left her job in a public school because of the underpayment. Her departure from her profession proves that more and more of the valuable teachers needed in school systems are leaving because of the incredibly low salary. As more and more teachers leave due to the salary issue, the education system itself will plummet. If teacher salaries do not change, we will lose more and more qualified teachers, some being the ones who keep our educational system

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