Hours Vs. Compensation - The Average Teacher Workday

I know you have heard the critics discussing the salaries of public school educators, and the hours they work to receive that pay. Columnist say things about the time teachers spend "babysitting" children. They talk of the number of days teachers work each year. One thing that is continuously talked about is the misconception that teachers get paid for the 2 ½ months that school is not in session. There is a misconception that teachers work less hours than most professionals. In most states teachers are paid for 9 ½ months, but their salary is spread over 12 months, and most work well over 40 hours a week.

Let's get to some of the other misconceptions. The first misconception is that teachers work only on the average of 180-190 days a year depending on which state they are employed in. Teachers are only paid for the days that they are on contract. Their contract is from 180 to approximately 190 days depending upon what type of teaching position they hold. Vocational (work program) teachers work more contract days because they have to try to locate employers willing to hire teenagers. They have to find both paid and unpaid internships that are located in the area surrounding the school so that student will be able to have transportation to and from their place of employment. Band teachers work more days because believe it or not the band has to perform at games, go to parades, etc. Band teachers work in the summer, before school, during their class time, after school and sometimes on Saturday, but only get paid whatever their contract states. I know Saturday's are not counted. Going to those performances is not counted either. Teachers work well over 190 days without compensation.

I recently read an article on counting the hours that teachers work. This article stated that the average public school teacher works an average of 36.5 hours per week. Let's count up the hours that a secondary teacher works in a traditional classroom with a traditional schedule (5 classes and 1 planning period). If school starts at 8:30 am, then most teachers are asked to be there by 8 am. In secondary schools, you have a rotating duty schedule which means that you are assigned to patrol the halls and/or cafeteria before school-no pay is given for this assignment, it's just another duty that is assigned. You can also have after school duty.

The report also stated that teachers had time between classes. On the average, passing period between classes is anywhere from 5 to 8 minutes depending upon the size of the building and the number of students. Most districts require that teachers stand at their doors during their passing period. It was also stated that teachers get a paid lunch hour, which if truth be told, is more like a lunch that is 35 minutes in length. Students have the same amount of time for their lunch. If for some reason at least in the state of Texas, the school has a 45 minute lunch, then the administration can and will take at least 15 minutes of it to give the teacher more duty (hall/cafeteria). The state only requires the school district to give teachers a 30 to 35 minute duty free lunch.

So far the teacher has 35 minutes where there are no students. Some people imagine that teachers have a free period. They consider the planning period to be a free period. Most teachers do plan, they grade papers, and they run off materials, they call parents, have conferences with parents, they even go to the bathroom - go figure all within the time of a 45 minute planning period.

School is out at 3:45 pm. Most teacher's don't leave at that time, they talk with students, make sure they have the things they need for the next day and much more. If they are the cheerleader sponsor, they may have cheerleader practice. There are club meetings after school and faculty meetings before and after school. If you pass by most secondary schools you will see cars well passed the school closing time. There is open house, progress report pickup and special programs where no one shows up but the teachers-no additional pay.

There is always the discussion that school is always out and now the children are home with nothing to do. The teachers' children are at home too, and teachers don't make the rules. There is no Christmas bonus, no promotion for a job well done except to go into administration which some don't see as a promotion.

Teachers don't get a furlough with at least 75% of their pay. They don't get to stay at home and draw a salary while their company retools or just has too many students on the lot. Teachers do not punch a time card, they work until they get the job done.