The Maine Wire
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending News
  • Investigation Launched Into Alleged ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ Between Bangor High Staff Member and Student
  • Press Herald Quotes Fake “Small Business Coalition” Without Disclosing Funding Ties to Liberal Dark Money Groups
  • Maine’s Media Ignores Taxpayer-Funded Community College Free Rides for Noncitizens
  • Maine Public School Officials Used Government Resources to Advocate Against Ban on Obscene Books, Emails Show
  • Lawmakers Seek to Broaden Maine’s “Clean” Election Act
  • Appeals Court Rules Against Gov. Mills in Case Challenging Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers
  • State House: Pro-lifers rally against Mills’ unlimited abortion bill; left-wing groups push paid leave payroll tax
  • Maine Recruiting Noncitizens for Free Community College Under Gov. Mills “Free College” Plan
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Maine Wire
Login
Monday, May 29
  • News
  • Commentary
  • Maine Wire TV
  • About
  • Contact
The Maine Wire
Home » News » Our Teachers Should Be Paid What They Are Worth
Education

Our Teachers Should Be Paid What They Are Worth

Paul LePageBy Paul LePageMay 3, 2017Updated:May 3, 2017No Comments3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

Good teachers are critical to Maine’s future, so let’s pay them adequately.

Our children are our most valuable asset, and as a parent, I have been fortunate to raise my family in Maine.

Unfortunately, while Maine is a good place to raise a family, our teachers are earning below-average salaries.

The average salary for teachers in New England states is more than $70,000. In Maine, they settle for $20,000 less, which is $8,000 below the national average.

Sadly, union bosses who claim to represent our educators don’t want to work on solutions that will increase teacher wages and help improve their teaching skills.

For six years I have tried to work with union bosses at the Maine Education Association to benefit students and teachers, but they refuse. For years, I have proposed matching funds for professional development of our teachers to increase expertise and excellence, but they refused and walked away from the table. I have advocated for more money in the classroom and less for inefficient administrative structures, but the union bosses won’t support that either.

Once again, I am standing up for our teachers to ensure they receive better pay, but we need your help.

There is a bill in the legislature to increase teacher’s wages and make sure that more state funds for education actually end up in the classroom.

It is part of a comprehensive plan that will recruit and retain highly qualified teachers, as well as provide equity across the state for both teachers and students.

This is especially important in rural and disadvantaged schools where there is high turn-over because they are unable to compete with higher salaries in wealthier districts.

A statewide teacher’s contract will enable excellent, properly paid, professional educators for every classroom and student in the State of Maine.

The State would pay for the standard salaries and benefits of all Maine teachers. By directing state funding to actual teaching and learning, the contract would bring the state share of education cost above 55%, the so-called magic number that advocates cite based on a flawed formula.

And it removes an enormous burden on local volunteer school boards, who have to bargain teacher contracts and are often outmatched by professional, highly paid negotiators from the MEA. Think about the wasted time of having 148 superintendents engaged in negotiations every year rather than focusing on student outcomes. There must be a better way.

Past gimmicks, like raising the minimum teacher salary, have not provided a long-term solution. Even after the State implemented a $30,000 minimum annual salary for teachers, districts fail that requirement claiming added local financial burden. Teachers are still being hired below the minimum.

It’s time we put our students and our teachers first, and reject the union bosses and special interests that only want the status quo.

On Thursday, there is a public hearing on this important bill in Augusta. I encourage you to come to the state house and voice your opinion.

If you cannot make it, write a note to your state representative and senator. Your voice matters, and so do our teachers.

Commentary education Featured
Previous ArticleLePage Files Lawsuit Against Attorney General Janet Mills
Next Article Teacher Pay? It’s Time to Reform the Underlying Structure and Driving Factors
Paul LePage

Governor Paul LePage (R) has served as the 74th Governor of Maine since 2011. Prior to his time as governor, LePage served as the general manager of Marden's and as the mayor of Waterville.

Related Posts

Investigation Launched Into Alleged ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ Between Bangor High Staff Member and Student

May 26, 2023

Maine’s Media Ignores Taxpayer-Funded Community College Free Rides for Noncitizens

May 26, 2023

Maine Public School Officials Used Government Resources to Advocate Against Ban on Obscene Books, Emails Show

May 26, 2023

Leave A Reply

Recent News

Investigation Launched Into Alleged ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ Between Bangor High Staff Member and Student

May 26, 2023

Press Herald Quotes Fake “Small Business Coalition” Without Disclosing Funding Ties to Liberal Dark Money Groups

May 26, 2023

Maine’s Media Ignores Taxpayer-Funded Community College Free Rides for Noncitizens

May 26, 2023

Maine Public School Officials Used Government Resources to Advocate Against Ban on Obscene Books, Emails Show

May 26, 2023

Lawmakers Seek to Broaden Maine’s “Clean” Election Act

May 26, 2023
Newsletter

News

  • News
  • Campaigns & Elections
  • Opinion & Commentary
  • Media Watch
  • Education
  • Media

Maine Wire

  • About the Maine Wire
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Commentary
  • Complaints
  • Maine Policy Institute

Resources

  • Maine Legislature
  • Legislation Finder
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Maine Wire TV

Facebook Twitter Instagram Steam RSS
  • Post Office Box 7829, Portland, Maine 04112

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Sign In or Register

Welcome Back!

Login below or Register Now.

Lost password?

Register Now!

Already registered? Login.

A password will be e-mailed to you.