Regardless of what you think of it, the recent series in the Ann Arbor News [1] on salary levels for teachers and other school employees has broken open a topic that has to be addressed as we work to build community support for our schools. There are a lot of misunderstandings, myths and suspicions that surround the topic of how much our teachers are paid, and these things really need to see the light of day.

Some of the responses to the articles have been particularly valuable, such as this op-ed piece by a high school teacher in Saline [2] and this collection of letters from teachers and other community members [3].

The responses address some of the public concerns that were raised (but not always fully explored) in the original articles, such as the argument that teachers are paid generously because they get three months off, that salary "steps" are like giving someone a raise for not getting fired, and so on.

For me, the articles and the responses highlighted the fact that teachers really are (and should be) professionals, but that we (the public) have a hard time thinking of them in the same category as lawyers, accountants, and so on. [I think it's also fair to say that public impressions of the teachers' contract, with its detailed focus on minutes of work expected, encourages that sort of thinking.] That needs to change.

The responses to the articles make clear that teachers already work above and beyond the requirements of their contracts because that is what they feel they need to do to be effective. Added to that is the time spent on required continuing education and graduate credit, which qualifies teachers for higher pay after the fact but which is done out-of-pocket.

Does every teacher feel this level of responsibility to their students and their profession? Probably not. But every teacher I've had the pleasure of meeting in the AAPS certainly has. And that is the sort of person I want teaching my children.

What do you think?