By Aeriana Smith ’25
Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping the future by educating and inspiring the next generation, but many teachers face financial challenges due to relatively low salaries. This article explores why teachers deserve higher pay, potential benefits it can bring to both educators and society, and how it can affect teachers’ personal lives.
There are studies showing how higher teacher pay can improve teacher quality and increase motivation to strengthen student performance. Higher teacher salaries attract and retain well-prepared teachers who are more likely to invest in professional development, keeping their skills and knowledge up to date, and enhancing the overall quality of education.
Adequate compensation reflects the value society places on the teaching profession. Higher pay not only motivates educators but also contributes to their job satisfaction. Content and satisfied teachers create a positive learning environment and foster student success.
Teachers are expected to go beyond traditional classroom duties, including mentoring, counseling, and participating in extracurricular activities. Higher pay acknowledges the multifaceted roles teachers play in the lives of children and recognizes their contributions to students’ holistic development. “Eight of the highest paying jobs in education” states, “High school teachers earn an average salary of $61,000 annually, making them better paid than elementary and middle school teachers,” but still many teachers struggle financially, especially early in their careers. Increasing their salaries helps bridge economic disparities, ensuring that dedicated educators can afford a decent standard of living, reducing turnover, and providing stability in the education system.
“Teachers are Underpaid: 15 Reasons They Deserve a Raise” adds, “They should not have to work side gigs just to make ends meet, but that is a big part of the profession today. Teachers are more likely to work a second job than most others in the workforce, but paying them a better wage would allow them to focus exclusively on their students. They give their time, patience, knowledge, and even their own money to help support their students. It is a job that many would not consider because of how much it stretches you in multiple ways. Unlike other professions, working harder does not lead to a higher salary.”
Higher salaries contribute to teacher retention, reducing the turnover rate. Experienced teachers bring valuable insights and skills to the classroom, positively impacting students and contributing to the overall strength of the education system. “Teachers are unpaid” adds, “Teachers are the foundation of our educational system. For many children, teachers make up a big part of childhood, teaching but also helping form opinions on things like trust, respect, and doing good to help others.”
“Improving Students’ Relationships with Teachers to Provide Essential Supports for Learning” adds, “Picture a student who feels a strong personal connection to her teacher, talks with her teacher frequently, and receives more constructive guidance and praise than just criticism from her teacher. The student is likely to trust her teacher more, show more engagement in learning, behave better in class and achieve at higher levels academically. Positive teacher-student relationships draw students into the process of learning and promote their desire to learn (assuming that the content material of the class is engaging, age-appropriate and well matched to student skills).”
Education is an investment in the future, and teachers are at the forefront of this investment. A well-compensated teaching workforce attracts top talent, resulting in a better-educated society that is better equipped to face the challenges for the future. Teacher morale plays a huge role in the educational picture, and high compensation boosts morale. A teacher who is motivated and happy provides the highest level of education for their students, ultimately improving the quality of education the student receives. Teachers know what they are getting into when choosing a poor paying career instead a higher-paying career, though teachers still choose this career to help support young minds. Their efforts are wholehearted, unlike those who enter positions in other fields with the ambition to grow their wealth as a priority.
Investing in teachers through higher pay is an investment in the foundation of society. By recognizing the vital role educators play and compensating them appropriately, we improve the quality of education and build a stronger and more prosperous future for our communities. It is time to prioritize and elevate the teaching profession through fair and competitive compensation.
The Raider Press 