[blues22]

Okay - I've just got to put my opinion in here. I'm a teacher, too, in the US (St. Louis metro area). The salary structure is too complicated to explain, but I'm not on the base salary, and I gross about $32k a year. My salary is enough for me, but I have to agree that teachers are underpaid.

At my school, we have a 7-hour school day, and we're responsible for 15-minutes before and after school. I have 3 preps, and teach 6 classes, along with an advisory, which is basically a study hall with extra activities thrown in. We also have other responsibilities (tutoring, detention or other babysitting-type duty) and professional development which will cause us stay later every so often (and every Wednesday for an extra hour plus).

Along with the outside time (grading - argh!) already mentioned, at the non-rich schools, we have to pay for some of our supplies (markers, pens/pencils/etc, computer ink, hole-punch, stapler...). The elementary teachers get really screwed on this (I'm a high school math teacher, so I'm much better off). They make less, and they have to buy more.

Oh, and I mustn't forget the cost of extra schooling... which isn't commonly paid around here, but is necessary to continue advancing.

But really, the thing that is most annoying about teaching is some of the students and parents we have to deal with. 95% of my students can't do 2nd grade math without a calculator, so I have to beat my head against a brick wall.

That being said, I LOVE the time off. But, without it, there is no way in hell I would teach.