Show Me the Money!

Friday, after school, my wife demanded, “Show me your pay stub!”

O.K. Seriously- I get it. We’ve both taught the same amount of years… but this is her first year as a full-time public school teacher. I don’t know about your state, but NJ has a highly competitive teacher job market.

Perhaps its because the state boasts so many top notch teachers’ prep schools such as Rutgers, Ramapo, Rowan, Rider, The College of New Jersey, etc. Or that we are a stone’s throw from Columbia, Penn State, and the like.

No.

Perhaps its because NJ farmlands are under attack by an onslaught of developers such as the Toll Brothers or K-Hov that build cookie-cutter suburban developments faster than schools can build matching facilities equip with staff, technology, and textbooks.

No.

Perhaps its because NJ’s is experiencing a budget crisis. Even thought have the highest population per capita, and that residents pay one of the highest property taxes, our treasury is in the red. So, we cut funding to the schools that already can’t keep up with the suburban sprawl machine. Cure? Budget freeze for education.

Maybe it’s a combination- all of the above.

So, I knew , “Show me your pay stub,” was her moment to shine. This check represented more than the first two weeks worth of pay- it was five years in the making. Congratulations! Getting a public school job without the “who you know” is quite a feat in this state.

Though… did you have to rub it in my face that you make more step one than I do as a sixth year teacher having almost obtained my Masters degree?

Tags: Education, pay, NJ