| Teachers in Arizona Schools are Paid Less | | | | that TUSD recently offered its teachers - a |
| | | | generous one per cent. Since then TUSD has |
| Teachers in Arizona schools are compensated | | | | magnanimously upped its offer to 1.5 per |
| based on their level of education, | | | | cent, and as teachers hold out still |
| qualifications and teaching experience. But | | | | continues to dilly dally about further pay |
| is that truly fair pay? The comparatively low | | | | raises. But the message is clear - teachers |
| pay scales for teachers in Arizona schools | | | | in Arizona schools are grossly undervalued |
| are leading to a serious under valuation of | | | | which is a contributing factor in the state's |
| teachers, the backbone of any education | | | | slow decline in the education rankings. When |
| system. Salary increases are often decided by | | | | you factor in inflation and rising costs of |
| the school boards, and teachers are | | | | living, offering a one percent raise is |
| shortchanged when they try to change school | | | | insulting and demeaning to the teaching |
| districts. Studies indicate that al least one | | | | profession. |
| third of teachers in Arizona schools leave | | | | |
| the system within two years of joining it. | | | | Arizona Schools Fail to Attract the Cream of |
| | | | the Crop |
| Teachers at Arizona Schools Have no Say in | | | | |
| the Compensation Process | | | | With pay scales that are decided at the mercy |
| | | | of the school boards, and not enough teacher |
| Strangely enough, at some Arizona schools | | | | participation in the compensatory decision |
| teacher compensation can vary. Salaries can | | | | making process, Arizona schools are having a |
| run the gamut beginning in the 20,000s and | | | | tough time finding teachers who make the |
| going up to the 40,000s depending on the | | | | grade. Highly qualified professional men and |
| Arizona schools districts. This is an odd | | | | women who wish to pursue the noble profession |
| situation because each student in Arizona | | | | of teaching are turned off by the devaluation |
| schools receives up to $6000 in funding, | | | | of teachers that is the norm in Arizona |
| across all districts. | | | | schools. When this happens it's the students |
| | | | who suffer from missing out on the practical |
| Teachers in Arizona public schools have even | | | | experience that the professionals can bring |
| less bargaining power when it comes to salary | | | | to classrooms. The devaluation of teachers |
| negotiations than teachers in other stats. | | | | thus hurts the students the most. |
| This is clear from the insulting pay increase | | | | |