There has been much debate recently about whether or not teachers are state employees. Proponents of the state employee argument say that teachers are paid by the state, and as such, should be considered state employees. Those against the idea say that teaching is an individualized profession, and should not be classified as a state occupation. Want to know which side of the debate I believe? Let’s discuss it!
The History of Teachers as State Employees
Teachers have been stating employees since the late 1800s. In 1867, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill creating a teacher’s salary board and authorizing the governor to appoint members. The salary board was charged with setting teacher salaries, and it was also responsible for approving new teacher contracts. This system of state employee unions and pay scales survives to this day.
In 1894, Colorado became the first state to grant teachers collective bargaining rights. The idea spread quickly throughout the country, and by 1919, all but three states had passed laws granting teachers some form of collective bargaining rights. In reaction to these reforms, many school districts simply closed down or fired all of their teachers who had unionized. However, in 1933, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which established the right of private employees to unionize and collectively bargain with their employers. This law made it illegal for states to interfere with teachers’ unionization efforts, and within a few years, most states had repealed their teacher salary boards and granted teachers collective bargaining rights.
Today, every state except Louisiana grants teachers some form of collective bargaining rights. Teachers in Louisiana are only allowed to strike if they are part of a statewide bargaining unit.
How Teachers Became State Employees
Most teachers in the United States are not state employees. State employees are typically workers who are employed by a specific government entity like a school district or state government. Teachers, on the other hand, are not typically state employees because they are not employees of a government entity. Instead, teachers are typically hired by individual schools or districts and are therefore considered private sector employees. This distinction can lead to some important implications for how teachers are treated in terms of pay, benefits, and protections.
Teachers tend to receive lower pay than most other professionals in the private sector. The average American worker earns about $50,000 per year, while the average teacher earns only about $44,000 per year. This gap is even wider when you compare teachers to scientists and engineers, who typically earn much more than teachers. In fact, a scientist working in the private sector can earn up to $160,000 per year, while a teacher earning the same amount would only make $106,000 per year. Additionally, benefits for teachers tend to be relatively limited compared to those offered to other types of workers. For example, many public sector workers receive health insurance and retirement funding through their employer, but teachers typically do not receive these types of benefits.
Teachers also tend to have less job security than most other workers in the private sector. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of school districts firing teachers for reasons like low test scores or lack of enrollment. This type of job security is not typically offered to workers in the private sector, where employees can be fired for any reason at any time.
Overall, teachers are not typically considered state employees because they are not employees of a government entity. This distinction can lead to some important implications for how teachers are treated in terms of pay, benefits, and protections.
The Salaries of Teachers as State Employees
Teachers in the U.S. are considered state employees under the Defined Benefit Pension Plan Act of 1974, which sets their salaries and retirement benefits. Teachers who are not members of a union may receive a salary that is lower than those who are unionized, as well as less comprehensive benefits. As of 2009, the average salary for a beginning teacher was $36,392, while the average salary for a veteran teacher was $52,920.
In order to receive full pension benefits, teachers must have served at least five years in a state school system. Teachers who retire after serving less than five years may still receive some pension benefits if they have reached at least age 50 and have completed at least three years of service credit. Teachers with more than 30 years of service may receive full retirement benefits at age 55.
The Benefits and Perks of Being a State Employee
Teachers are some of the most dedicated professionals in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. From generous benefits to valuable job security, teachers have a lot to love about their work. Here are five of the biggest benefits and perks of being a state employee:
1. Excellent job security: State employees enjoy some of the strongest job security in the country, thanks in part to their dedicated pension system and collective bargaining rights. In fact, only about 5% of all public employees nationwide have a retirement plan that offers a guaranteed minimum income, according to research from The National Institute on Retirement Security.
2. Generous benefits package: State employees enjoy some of the best benefits in the country, including medical and dental coverage, life insurance, paid vacation time, and more. In addition, many states offer tuition reimbursement programs and other educational assistance programs.
3. Competitive salary: On average, state employees earn more than employees working for private companies. According to The National Education Association’s report “The Cost of College 2016-2017,” state school teachers earn an average salary of $59,970 while private sector workers earning an equivalent level of education earn an average salary of $50,000.
4. Flexible work hours: Many state employees enjoy the opportunity to work flexible hours, often choosing to work part-time in order to spend more time with their families. In some states, employees can even take unpaid leave for personal reasons without losing their jobs.
