Should Teachers Be Paid More?

The 6th-grade students at our school were practicing for the state persuasive essay test. They were asked to write a letter to the principal letting her know whether they believed teachers should be paid more nor not. Here are some of their responses:

“I think so. They have tried so hard all these years…”

“They have to tolerate so much on us and try their best so that when the district comes in our class, we don’t screw up everything.”

“They have to wait and not get mad. I don’t think that is very easy when you’re trying to teach something, and the kids are like, ‘What did you say?’ It’s just really frustrating to do that, so they deserve more money.”

“It is hard not, like, sitting in the teachers lounge, drinking wine, and just chatting with other teachers. They just deserve more money…”

“The solution is yes! Teachers are the start to another generation. Teachers are the future…Make teaching legendary…”

“Teachers deserve more money! They need money for clothes.”

“I absolutely, positively know that teachers should get more money…They can pay for health and their bills. They can also pay for food.”

“Teachers would definitely be happier if they got a raise. Happy teachers make happy students!”

“I know that the teachers that work in schools should be paid more!…Teachers paid a TON of money before to get educated in order to teach. They must have paid at least $1,000 dollars just to do school…to work here. It’s quite stressful!”

“I do think that teachers should get paid more…Some really good teachers take hours to prepare their lessons. Really awesome and exciting lessons take hours to prepare and hours to get all of that awesomeness into them.”

“Teachers work for the government. Why do congressmen get paid more than teachers?”

“If you were a teacher you would have a hard life. If they get paid less than you then that’s not fair. Teachers should be paid how hard of a class they teach. Or everyone would be teaching kindergarten.” - How little do they know! :)

“Dear Principal,
I heard you are not paying the teachers as much. Now that is unstable…Teachers are very smart and they share their smartness to the kids…If we didn’t have teachers we wouldn’t be smart at all.”

“If teachers quit because they were not paid enough, who would teach us? Teachers are the reason people become successful…If there were no teachers, school would be pointless.”