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'''Teacher Pay''' is a controversial subject in the [[United States]].  

'''Teacher Pay''' is a controversial subject in the [[United States]].  

==Facts about Teacher Pay==

==Facts about Teacher Pay==

* [[Public school]] [[teacher]]s make $43,000 a year, on average compared to $40,100 for other full-time workers. <ref>Coulter, 2006</ref>

* [[Public school]] [[teacher]]s make $43,000 a year, on average compared to $40,100 for other full-time workers, yet consistently complain that they are underpaid. <ref>Coulter, 2006</ref>

* Public school teachers make an average of 61% more per hour than [[private school]] teachers.<ref>[http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_50.htm How Much Are Public School Teachers Paid?], Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters, ''Manhattan Institute for Policy Research'', January 2007</ref>

* Public school teachers make an average of 61% more per hour than [[private school]] teachers.<ref>[http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_50.htm How Much Are Public School Teachers Paid?], Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters, ''Manhattan Institute for Policy Research'', January 2007</ref>

* The average [[retire]]ment age for teachers is 59, compared to 64 for other [[profession]]s.{{fact}}

* The average [[retire]]ment age for teachers is 59, compared to 64 for other [[profession]]s.

* Teachers make an average of $34.06 an hour<ref>2005 data</ref>.  

* Teachers make an average of $34.06 an hour<ref>2005 data</ref>.

* Teachers have almost complete job security.{{fact}}

* Teachers have almost complete job security.

* Public school teachers have a benefits package worth 26% of their salary on average, compared to 17% for private school teachers.{{fact}}

* Public school teachers have a benefits package worth 26% of their salary on average, compared to 17% for private school teachers.

* Over 20,000 teachers in the US are making more than $100,000 via liberal experimentation in the education system.{{fact}}

* Over 20,000 teachers in the US are making more than $100,000 via liberal experimentation in the education system.

==Teacher Opposition to Issues Regarding Pay==

==Teacher Opposition to Issues Regarding Pay==

Teachers are generally against a school voucher program, stating that it would lower teacher pay. However, many conservatives believe the [[competition]] for good teachers in a free market would substantially increase teacher pay.

Teachers are generally against a school voucher program, stating that it would lower teacher pay. Teachers are also against the concept of [[meritocracy|merit pay]] (whereby the best teachers are rewarded for being the best).  As a result, the public school system promotes generalized mediocrity amongst teachers and allows underperforming teachers to remain employed.  Many conservatives believe the [[competition]] for good teachers in a free market would substantially increase teacher pay.

Teachers generally oppose charter schools and homeschooling. {{fact}}

Teachers generally oppose charter schools and homeschooling.

==References==

==References==