Just curious, are you getting paid for these summer workshops, meetings etc? I mean, you’re using your summer break to improve education. You should be compensated for this.

Your idea is certainly worth the discussion. While I am more than willing to work the summer, I wont presume to speak for all. My child is grown, so MY life would not be financially impacted by childcare. I would actually enjoy the planning time undistracted by students. We as teachers could collaborate more effectively. I do worry, however that this would have a grave impact on my fellow teachers. Also this plan does not actually “raise” teachers pay. It just increases paid days. (This was ingeniously pointed out before.) Still I end by saying, I would be onboard for the plan.

I love this idea! I just worry about a solution for where the kids go and what they do with parents that will be working on Friday.

1. Financial impact: you are suggesting an estimated 10k “raise”; but, when you consider taxable income and costs such as childcare, how much of a benefit would summer teaching (working) be for teachers who have school aged children? Raising the tax burden on teachers without increasing the benefit is irresponsible. In California, high school teachers on average make just over 120k in small districts and in large districts just over 145k.

2. Why do we value our teachers so little that we barely pay them a living wage? The people we entrust the education of our future to, we pay like fast food workers; why is that? Why should teachers work even harder for the pay they deserve?

We can increase teacher pay by independent audits of school spending; checks and balances. Reel in wasteful spending and use that money instead to raise the salary of our educators.