On: A Student Loan Nightmare: The Teacher in the Wrong Payment Plan

[vkou]

And yet, the teachers that taught me while I was a child (In BC) spent anywhere between 2 and 30 years on the job.

What has changed? Why is teaching in America such a terrible job?

[stewartbutler → vkou]

"No child left behind" and similar initiatives that lead to perverted incentives that the teachers bear the brunt of. Also low pay and no respect.

[valuearb → stewartbutler]

Teachers are doing fine.

Three months off a year, government level medical benefits, and lucrative pensions after only 25 years (sometimes only 20). Not to mention tenure.

Schools are paying enough to not have any lack of candidates for open positions. Their real problem is to equate “teaching certificates’ and credentials with teaching ability.

[vkou → valuearb]

> Teachers are doing fine.

Great!

> Three months off a year.

This is like saying that ski instructors get nine months off a year. It's not paid leave.