Teacher salary schedule

The current state minimum teacher salary schedule begins at $31,600 per school year for new teachers with a bachelor’s degree and reaches $42,325 for teachers with 25 years or more of experience and a bachelor’s degree. The salary schedule provides more for advanced degrees and certifications, and doesn’t include health insurance and other benefits. The Legislature needs to give teachers a pay raise, but it shouldn’t be a set amount for all teachers. There should be a greater benefit for teachers with more experience in the classroom. The salary schedule needs to be adjusted to provide more money for starting teachers, but there should be a greater increase than there currently is for each year of experience. Instead of stopping at 25 years, the increases should continue to at least 30 years’ experience.

Public school teachers should receive more support from the taxpayers, as well as from the families of students. Our children must have an education to have any hope for the future. Taxpayers should provide the funds to attract and keep good teachers. Parents must expect their children to take advantage of the education that the taxpayers pay for. And children must acquire the knowledge necessary to earn a good living to support their families and dreams. The alternative is too dismal to consider.

Doug Hooper, Edmond