Bernie: Teacher starting salaries should be at least 60k

[Tiggeroshii]

Bernie Sanders declared Wednesday afternoon that the starting salary for teachers in the country should be at least $60,000. According to one report, that kind of minimum salary would be much higher than the average salary of teachers in 37 states.

Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont who is currently among the top Democratic contenders for the 2020 presidential race, sent a tweet today that said teacher strikes in various states over the last few years indicate “inadequate wages” for the nation’s educators.

“The historic teacher strikes of the past few years have showed us that teachers are paid totally inadequate wages,” Sanders tweeted.

“We're the richest country on Earth and can afford to pay educators decent wages.

“A starting salary for all teachers should be at least $60,000.”

https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-says-all-teacher-salaries-should-start-60000-1433426?fbclid=IwAR2SRGNr8kBkOzf_2SbT4TIHEanggPMJHnZtPcjTQf_q7XhLgqZfgZTXeIo

[Turin_C3PO]

1. I agree with that.

Teachers are criminally underpaid. Although I’m not sure it’s a federal issue; I think the states are more in charge of education.

[FBaggins]

7. You're correct that it's a state issue

Which gives him the benefit of being able to call for it without ever having to deliver (or even come up with a plan that can then be picked at like the Green New Deal was).

Unfortunately... the teachers unions don’t carry near the clout in the primaries that they once did - even were they to believe that he could deliver (which he can’t)

[redstatebluegirl]

2. Great idea Bernie, now how do you pay for it????

How do you force the states to pay for it when most of them are nearly broke! We had to march to get our teachers better pay in Oklahoma, the teachers had to put their jobs in jeapordy by walking out to get their attention and a small raise.

He can want this all he wants, but a President cannot make this happen, this is a state and local issue and most of them are controlled by republicans.

I would love nothing more than to see teachers paid what they are worth, but he has no control over this issue. It is being used as a campaign promise, like free tuition that cannot be accomplished by the President alone.

[Turin_C3PO]

3. Maybe education should be federalized more?

I don’t know, just throwing out thoughts. I’m certainly not qualified to opine too much but teachers deserve a lot better than they’re getting.

[Tiggeroshii]

6. +10

Thank you. This should definitely not be as controversial an issue as medicare for all.

[redstatebluegirl]

11. Yes it should be, but that would take a lot of heavy lifting in many states.

The blue states might even fight losing control of their schools. My dad spent 20 years as president of the local school board in Illinois in a very blue county, it would never fly there.

I totally agree that teachers should make more money, they have never been paid properly. But we need to get control of the states again in order to make that happen. We worry so much about national elections, candidates make it sound like they can impact issues they have no control over to win and then people are disappointed.

[Turin_C3PO]

14. Yeah, both my parents were teachers

so I’m interested in this issue. I do agree that giving up local control would be a hard sell. We need to do what the Republicans have done over the past 40 years and get control of everything from dog catcher to school boards to state governments and up. That will affect a lot of change in many policies.

[redstatebluegirl]

16. My Dad always said a school board can screw with your life more than a President can.

I truly agree with that.

[at140]

77. You are one smart cookie!

Your views on education issues are close to my own, and I am smart hahaha so you must be smart!

[redstatebluegirl]

89. Thank you!

[Tiggeroshii]

4. Same trope. Seriously?

There is more than enough money in government budgets to pay for it, it is just not a priority. Teachers living on food stamps is unacceptable in any society.

[redstatebluegirl]

9. How do you accomplish this in the current system?

I totally agree that teachers are worth more and have worked hard here in Oklahoma to get our teachers more money from this crazy republican administration, but I don't see how you can accomplish it. If he can explain how he would do it I could decide for myself if it was reasonable.

[Tiggeroshii]

12. Honestly, in red states, they need to raise taxes substantially

Blue states like California have been overwhelmingly subsidizing red state's failure to adequately fund their state governments and provide the basic infrastructure that they need, so federal government programs funded disproportionately through blue states who pay a higher tax rate, take care of the basic necessities. If they threw out that long debunked myth that lower taxes is somehow good, it could happen. However, Bernie has already used his position to push companies like Amazons to increase wages, maybe the same can work for states. His constant solidarity and holding the picket line with teachers and workers is also helpful.

[Voltaire2]

32. The federal government could offer teacher salary subsidies.

It couldn't force states to accept them of course, so the JesusLand states could reject this sort of socialistic horror. Meanwhile the rest of us could attract and retain higher quality teachers.

[Tiggeroshii]

33. This is a great idea!

Thank you, Voltaire2

[Voltaire2]

36. The rejectniks in this thread

will continue to find 'reasons' why this is 'a publicity stunt' or 'not something the fed can do', even though it is quite obvious that of course it can be done. Because, you know, Sanders proposed it.

[Tiggeroshii]

38. It is interesting

It's almost as if he can call grass green and they will cry foul. This is not a controversial issue in our party, and it astounds me how far they will go to reject it simply because it came from him.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Tiggeroshii.

[Tiggeroshii]

10. Of Course!

More of this should be shared. Bernie is not campaigning on the same things as other candidates, and his priorities are on point.

[Chin music]

8. 60k is even on the thin side. Considering how much teachers take out of their pay to

make classrooms viable.

[Tiggeroshii]

13. Agreed.

It is a bare minimum still. Currently, they are simply underwater with all their basic necessities.

[FiveGoodMen]

62. That's a separate problem that we should definitely fix.

[Chin music]

70. Absolutely.

[redstatebluegirl]

15. Once again it seems like the issues most important to Americans in the Presidential

election are things that are mainly handled at the state level. Voting totals for Presidential elections is so much higher than any state and local election. We are lucky if we get 2000 people to vote in our precinct for city council or school board. Voting for state representative and senate are abysmal. Why can't people see that the state and local elections mess with their lives more than the Presidential election?

[Tiggeroshii]

17. I don't think a federal minimum wage for teachers should be out of the question.

Which is clearly what this is alluding to. Regardless who best can handle it, we need to keep it in the spotlight if we want something to change.

[redstatebluegirl]

18. I don't think they can pull that off but ok.

In a perfect world I agree with Bernie, but this is far from perfect. If we don't start taking back the states we are not going to get anything we want.

[Tiggeroshii]

19. Doesn't hurt to try.

[FBaggins]

65. That actually can't be what he's referring to

The federal minimum wage does not apply to state/municipal employees. The federal government can’t pass a law telling the states how much they must pay their employees.

[MineralMan]

20. Teachers in our states are not federal employee. Most of them are employed by

local school districts. The federal government has no role in thes, except for schools on military bases. How much are they paid, I wonder?

Google knoes:
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Department-of-Defense-Education-Activity-Teacher-Salaries-E320562_D_KO41,48.htm


Average is: $63,912. Range is between $49-97k.

[Tiggeroshii]

21. Just looked it up too

Good to know the federal government is leading the way on this already.

Of course, a federal minimum wage for teachers should also be on the agenda.

[MineralMan]

22. The federal government cannot set minimum

wages for non-federal jobs, except for some federal contractors. You' knew that, right?

[Tiggeroshii]

26. You misunderstand me. The federal minimum wage covers all non-tipped workers, no?

And 2.13 for tipped workers? This is what I'm referring to in passing legislation specifically for teachers, not dictating pay for federal employees that does not require legislation to do. I understand federal employees are in a different category, but school districts need to pay their teachers the minimum wage in accordance with federal law.

[MineralMan]

23. Here are starting and average teacher salaries, by state:

https://www.niche.com/blog/teacher-salaries-in-america/

[SWBTATTReg]

24. Perhaps a higher minimum wage (federal) across the board for all workers will lift the waters...

high enough finally to allow teachers to earn / make this kind of pay. A lot of jurisdictions have criminal levels of taxation and thus the inability to pay their public workers a decent pay.

[Tiggeroshii]

34. Agreed!

That is definitely a great option as well.

[John Fante]

25. Salaries should correspond with the cost of living of each state.

$60k is a really nice salary in Mobile, Alabama. It's practically chump change in the Bay Area.

[Tiggeroshii]

31. Mobile doesn't have the best economy, so a higher than living wage could substantially reinvigorate

it.

[John Fante]

43. Doesn't change the fact that teachers in expensive coastal cities will be getting

the short end of the stick here. It's likely that a teacher in Alabama already has more disposable income than a teacher in NYC or SF. Now they're going to get the exact same salary to boot?

[Tiggeroshii]

44. Those teachers in AL don't have as much disposable income as you would think,

Considering how much they spend of their own money on classroom expenses. It wouldn't be perfect, but creating some kind of standard would be better than the current no-standard situation.

[MiniMe]

27. I agree, but I think location needs to be taken into account

It is much different making 60k in Wyoming and making 60k in LA or NY. In Wyoming, you are living well. In LA or NY you may be below the poverty line.

[Tiggeroshii]

29. The only harm that can do is create more spending in areas where it is above the cost of living, and

reinvigorate lower population urban economies and rural areas.

[NYMinute]

28. A POTUS has no role in setting salaries of non-Federal workers

This is as meaningless as saying "Children's birthday party clowns should be paid at least $500 per gig."

Publicity stunts continue.

[Tiggeroshii]

30. He can support and propose legislation to do so, actually

As with most of a president's agenda, much of it is determined by the legislation they propose and support.

[madville]

41. People probably will want some ideas

About where all these trillion dollars ideas will receive funding from.

[Tiggeroshii]

42. Oh my.

"trillions?" Why are you overstating the amount it would cost to pay teachers a living wage? There is no doubt that state dollars might come into play, but to say that the president of the united states is entirely incapable of pushing this to happen is ridiculous.

[madville]

45. One Trillion is a reasonable and conservative estimate

Over the first ten years of such a proposal. If you are talking about giving millions of people a 20-30k annual raise I would consider that a realistic number.

[Tiggeroshii]

47. So let's just not try then?

"It's expensive to pay teachers a living wage so they can eat and pay bills. So let's just not try, and any inclination that we should try without an already perfected spending plan, calculated to precision should be categorically rejected"

[madville]

67. I like the idea

But it's not a plan, just an idea and ideas are free. Other funding methods would need to be thought of because higher property taxes will rub many voters the wrong way.

[Tiggeroshii]

68. This false notion that higher taxes are somehow bad needs to be

Taken head on. We have the lowest highest marginal tax rate in the history of this country, and our reluctance to raise taxes is only harming society. Believe it or not, Bernie is doing that by selling the things their higher taxes would pay for, so as not to be able to be labelled a "tax and spend liberal." We can raise propertytaxes, but it wouldn't be fair to do that without a substantial hike on the top 1 and .1%, who bring in almost a majority of the nation's income.

[NYMinute]

48. Why not the clown-performers while he is at it?

[Tiggeroshii]

51. They already average close to six figures

However your implication that teachers amount to clowns is both offensive and absurd.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-laughing-matter-clowns-are-on-the-decline/

[NYMinute]

54. I was not comparing the two

Only highlighting the fact that they are both not Federal workers.

[Tiggeroshii]

55. What does them being federal worker have to do with anything?

Do they suddenly not deserve a fair wage because of it? This is crazy the lengths to go to vilify a completely reasonable demand.

[NYMinute]

56. It is not a POTUS's job to decide what others pay for their workers

This has been pointed out time and time over (right in this thread) and arguing that point makes the publicity stunt appear weak.

[Tiggeroshii]

69. Yes it is the governments job to decide that, actually.

And it has multiple ways of doing so, with or without Congress.


Why do you think a minimum wage even exists? Because the president decided to take action to decide what non federal workers are paid., and got Congress on board with legislation.

[NYMinute]

73. A minimum wage is a different animal.

This is a publicity stunt. The sooner one realizes it, the better off everyone is.

[Tiggeroshii]

78. Lol.

So addressing and acknowledging the horrible need millions of teachers are facing in the most basic way is a "publicity stunt?" I guess all candidates should stay quiet about the plight of anybody struggling as not to be accused of doing a "publicity stunt."

[NYMinute]

79. He could have just acknowledged it ... promising to change it

steps on the toes of governors and local governments … not to mention not addressing how he will pay for it.

Anyone can say "I'll build a free gold house for all the poor people" … explaining how it will be paid for and how the legislation will pass is the tricky part.

Just slogans and platitudes without explaining how it will be accomplished is a classic definition of a political publicity stunt.

[Tiggeroshii]

80. Acknowledging it would make him a person with good intentions.

Promising to change it makes him a candidate with a bold agenda who people can consider voting for. Kinda absurd to expect somebody running for president not to make promises to try and change the horrible situation that the people they will represent are in.

[NYMinute]

81. He could have just said

"Teachers salaries are too low and should be at least $60K per annum. PERIOD." That would have been presidential.

The problem is saying he would mandate it is very problematic.

Saying "Rodent catchers (or any local occupation) make very little and as president I'd make sure that they get at least $100 per mouse, $200 per rat and $300 per other rodent caught dead or alive" is a publicity stunt to get rodent catcher (or any other occupation) votes.

It is called pandering. Looks like everyone on this thread sees it except a few die hard devotees.

I am going to give up arguing this because some people just cannot be taught sense.

[Tiggeroshii]

82. He could just drop out of the race entirely, but that isn't going to happen.

Promising to fight for teachers as he always has been doing is what one would expect from a presidential candidate. The accusation of his "pandering" by demanding higher wages for workers like he did for Amazon (and succeeded) and is doing for millions of fast food workers is just more hilarity coming from the Bernie detractors.

[BannonsLiver]

35. +1

Sometimes I wonder if Bernie knows much about civics. That question has already been answered with regard to many of his supporters.

[Tiggeroshii]

37. See post 32

There are actually a lot of basic ways the fed can help teacher salaries, including but not limited to federal subsidies. The veiled accusation on his supporters is well received as projection. Also the accusation the fed government has no role in deciding such matters is entirely ignoring their role in proposing, rejecting, and supporting federal legislation that determines such things.

[BannonsLiver]

52. Good luck with that.

The issues with the pie in the Sky proposal he is making have been detailed for you in the thread, yet you are unwilling or unable to acknowledge those facts. Of course it’s all moot because thankfully, Bernie will never be president.

[Tiggeroshii]

53. I get that college and Medicare for all are grouped as "pie in the sky"

But calling trying to pay teachers fairly as "pie in the sky" is beyond extreme.

[BannonsLiver]

58. Medicare for all is a reasonable idea and a worthy endeavor

Completely overhauling the way teachers are paid in this country is more like pissing into the wind for reasons that have been detailed for you in the thread. Try listening to what someone else might have to say.

[NYMinute]

49. lol .. that bat was nicely wrapped in fleece.

[madville]

39. School funding is through property taxes here

In Florida. You want to see a huge revolt of independent voters in a swing state, mandate that their property taxes have to be raised to cover mandatory salaries. I'd pay a little more to fund salaries but people around here go nuts over millage rates.

[NurseJackie]

40. Bingo!

He's great at pointing out what's WRONG... but he just can't hone-in on any real-world solutions on how 'what we oughta do' can be implemented, or passed through congress, or PAID FOR!

Yes, our nation's teachers are underpaid and taken for granted... but just pointing that out and picking 60K as a universal starting number without any other realistic details, we'll that's just not going to get very far.

I like the way that Elizabeth Warren follows up her proposals and ideas with REALISTIC plans that could actually pass and that would actually PAY for the changes she speaks about.

[Kahuna7]

46. Here in NJ school taxes are astronomical.....

Listed below are just the top 25. School taxes are included in the property tax. Bernie apparently doesn't plan on winning NJ.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/brick/every-nj-towns-average-property-tax-bills-newly-released-list

Tavistock Borough, Camden $31,415.21
Millburn Township, Essex $23,733.23
Alpine Borough, Bergen $21,933.45
Tenafly Borough, Bergen $20,433.56
Mountain Lakes Borough, Morris $20,052.04
Glen Ridge Borough, Essex $19,658.52
Rumson Borough, Monmouth $19,551.43
Essex Fells Borough, Essex $19,495.61
Demarest Borough, Bergen $19,137.16
Montclair Township, Essex $19,065.32
Princeton, Mercer $18,894.41
Mendham Township, Morris $18,752.39
Upper Saddle River Borough, Bergen $18,118.92
Summit City, Union $17,929.68
South Orange Village Township, Essex $17,874.95
Haworth Borough, Bergen $17,691.97
Ridgewood Village, Bergen $17,660.97
Mantoloking Borough, Ocean $17,423.25
Franklin Lakes Borough, Bergen $17,239.11
Saddle River Borough, Bergen $17,160.10
Loch Arbour Village, Monmouth $16,874.13
Westfield Town, Union $16,725.46
Old Tappan Borough, Bergen $16,492.50
Deal Borough, Monmouth $16,304.27
Cresskill Borough, Bergen $16,208.08

[MichMan]

57. With taxes that high, teachers in NJ should make at least 100k

[madville]

64. They may not make 100k but they easily

Cost their school district over 100k each. People forget how much extra an employer pays over just the annual salary. Pension contributions, 401k matches, insurance premiums, social security contribution, etc, etc.

[Voltaire2]

72. So you wouldn't want increased federal funding?

Please explain.

[Kahuna7]

84. You explain it to yourself.

[Voltaire2]

85. Interesting.

The only explanations I can come up with for opposition to increased federal funding for education are:

1. Rightwing libertarian ideological principles
2. Rejecting anything Sanders proposes because ‘reasons’.

[Kahuna7]

86. Pithy. But wrong on both accounts. You can't...

get into my head no matter how hard you try.

[Voltaire2]

87. So go ahead and explain your opposition

to increased federal funding for education targeted at programs like increased teacher salaries and quality meals.

[Kahuna7]

88. How many ways do I have to tell you...

I do not owe you an explanation. So you should stop making demands of a total stranger on the internet.

[Voltaire2]

94. It's a discussion board. Discuss.

[NYMinute]

50. Don't let pesky details ruin a publicity stunt nt

[Kahuna7]

60. LOL! He's ceding a lot of high tax blue states.

I don't know what's up with that.

[NurseJackie]

66. EVERYTHING has been a publicity stunt.

I've seen NO (or very few) realistic proposals from the BS campaign. It's all been unfunded pie-in-the-sky, unicorns and rainbows. All these Utopian plans that would NEVER pass in the real world, that could NEVER get funded, and that would only happen in the BS philosophy of "my way or the highway" where NO COMPROMISE is allowed.

I think that most voters are sophisticated enough to see it for what it is.

[BannonsLiver]

59. Oh why worry about pesky details.

It’s a revolution!

[FiveGoodMen]

63. Which was a terrible idea all along

Make sure the rich areas have the better schools.

[Voltaire2]

71. What mandate? Is there a proposal

that includes a mandate?

By the way Florida receives about 11% of its public education funding from the federal government.

[madville]

74. Exactly

the vast majority of public education here is funded through property taxes.

There is no real mandate because it's just a random idea, not a real plan.

[Voltaire2]

75. There is no mandate because the proposal

is to increase federal funding for public education, not mandates, targeted at for example free quality meals and increased teacher pay.

[NYMinute]

76. What is even more painful

is that state and local taxes cannot be deducted from Federal tax returns anymore.

So it is Bernie's publicity stunt to appease a tiny fraction of the middle class at the expense of all the rest of the middle class.

Who comes up with these ideas for BS? He will not get anyone else to change their vote because of this and his devotees are already with him. No matter how namby-pamby a proposal, his devotees defend it to death. You can see the examples of that on this thread.

[FiveGoodMen]

61. Damn right!

[Tiggeroshii]

83. Thank you!!

This OP has a lot more negativity than I would have expected...

[FiveGoodMen]

91. My folks were both public school teachers and I taught for a while myself.

The lack of respect for the profession is pretty shocking.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

90. I agree that teachers are woefully underpaid, but how is the federal government

going to deal with that problem when schools are funded locally, either by state money or local real estate taxes or a combination of those?

[corbettkroehler]

93. That Should Be Addressed, Too, But It Starts With A Ban On Exploitation

Bernie's statement amounts to a national minimum wage for highly educated workers. If the national minimum wage can leave it up to businesses and local jurisdictions to find a way to pay for salary expenses in general, then it can demand a higher standard to countrymen tasked with educating future generations.

[zanana1]

92. Some kids would otherwise major in education.

If the salaries weren't at subsistence level, more people would be drawn to teaching.