College professors

United States
April 22, 2009 2:35pm CST
Okay I was told by my professor today who teaches English Composition and Rhetoric that professors at junior colleges get paid about the same as a regular High School teacher. I find that absurd and I do not understand why they would take that sort of job for the amount of work they have to put in. I would like an open opinion from ya'll on what you think college professors actually should get paid and whether you think that having a salary equivalent to a high school teacher's is reasonable considering the amount of work they invest. And yes I am aware that I used the word ya'll and I am talking about my English Composition class at the same time lol. Give me a break, I live in Texas.
1 person likes this
4 responses
• United States
22 Apr 09
I am in TX also, and inbetween 2 school districtxs, one pays 39,000 a year to first year teacher and the other 40,700. The typical Jr college professor works about40-50 hours a week and does not have to tutor students before school, during lunch, or after school (that is what the writing lab is for). I am going to be a teacher and expect to be working 50-60 hours a week if not more. Not to mention that the jr colleges that i am near only require their professors to have a 4 year degree (the same amoount of education TX teacher are required to have). I do not feel sorry for the jr college teacher because the students that are in their classes have made the choice to be there, and as a college professor you have the right to kick a student out of your class. Public school teachers do not. Is the pay really that bad? I do not think so, I have never made 40 thousand in a year. I know that there are better paying jobs but if you are a teacher it is NOT because you are in it for the money or even for summer off.
• United States
23 Apr 09
It is true. I am going to be a teacher and I assure you it is not for the money. I cannot even think of doing anything else. I feel drawn to the profesion like a moth to a flame. I feel that it is my calling from God. Many teachers feel the same way (even those who do not share my faith). I could make a ton of money in other feilds but there is no way I could be as happy.
• United States
23 Apr 09
Ah yes, I have heard on many occasions, from teachers themselves, that if ever selecting a job if teaching came into ones mind, that it would not be for the sake of the salary.
@thyst07 (2079)
• United States
22 Apr 09
What professors get paid really depends on the region and the school they are teaching in. I think that junior/community college professors usually get paid a little bit more than high school teachers, but not much more in most cases. On one hand, I do think that junior college professors should get paid more, because they have to go through more education to become professors than high school teachers do. But on the other hand, being a professor has some perks and freedoms that being a high school teacher does not. A college professor may not teach every day of the week, may have some choice over what time of day they want to teach, and usually has a little bit more freedom to choose their own curriculum. So I guess there are trade-offs. Most of the professors I had at my community college were wonderful people who had a passion for teaching, and I think that they ought to get paid more than they do.
• United States
22 Apr 09
When I graduate in December I will be qualified to teach 4-8th grade in Texas. I could put in an application at the local Jr college and get a job there because they only require a 4 year degree. The same one I have. The difference is that I will have taken classes that teach you how to teach while some of the professors have ony taken classes in what they teach.
• United States
23 Apr 09
I agree, my professors too have an absolutely sincere passion for the job that they do. I too feel that they should earn more but I suppose they knew the salary when they entered that field, so I'm sure that they made sure to process that before requesting the job lol.
@ada547612 (203)
• China
23 Apr 09
Teachers is now more and more attention should be said that their workload is in direct proportion to their wages, but I feel that the quality of the professors now have are not so responsible, and more just for the sake of money. This is detrimental to education, I would like to professors when paid in, should pay attention to the quality of their work.
@arvvaz89 (85)
• Sweden
23 Apr 09
Every step in ones education is importand and i am not sure i believe that someone should receive more because they teach higher education. they wouldn't be able t do it if it weren't for the teachers that teach all the lower educations.