I am a 14 year old high school student who has always had a high respect for teachers, and hopes to become one one day. I was recently told that someone who was once a teacher gets higher pay being a bartender than when they were a teacher. Not only this but they receive much kinder treatment and respect than being a teacher. 

Educators are the base of our country. Most everyone from the highest to lowest paying jobs have had at least one teacher in their life. And these teachers salaries do not reflect how much they do for their community. Most of the time, teachers pay out of their own pocket for classroom supplies and the well fare of their students. 

All across the United States teachers are payed from as much as $30,000-60,000 a year. Most K-12 teachers have at least a Bachelors degree, if not a Masters. Truck Divers ($80k/year salary), who only require a high school degree, are payed more than the people who helped get them to that point. 

According to weareteachers.com, “When teachers get paid more, students do better. In one study, a 10% increase in teacher pay was estimated to produce a 5 to 10% increase in student performance.” As one can see, if educators receive a higher salary, then those kids that they teach can get higher grades, which can lead to a good high paying job. 

I firmly believe that educators in our country should receive an increased salary of at least $5,000 to afford the need of classroom supplies, as well as enhancing student performance.