From Office of Career Counseling and Development at the University of Virginia(http://www.virginia.edu/~career/handouts/)

According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the 1995-96 median beginning teacher's salary was $21,000 (for teachers with bachelors degrees and no experience in NAIS member schools only).** The middle 50% of NAIS member schools' beginning teachers' salaries ranged from $18,800 to $23,500, and the top 10% ranged from $26,000 to $32,300. The median salary for all teachers (at NAIS member schools) in 1995-96 was $30,000, with the middle 50% ranging from $26,600 to $36,100 and the top 10% ranging from $40,700 to $61,000. The differences in both beginning and all teachers' salaries are due to factors such as candidates holding advanced degrees or having some prior teaching experience, and (for experienced teachers) number of years in the profession. These figures are "cash salary" only; in cases where free or subsidized housing and/or board is provided, the cash salaries are likely to be somewhat lower.

** Note, these are 1995-96 stats, so these would be a bit higher now.

In contrast, the average public school teacher salary is around $38,000 (see pubsal.htm ).

So, I was mistaken that mean levels of pay for public school teachers were lower than public. However, part of the issue with that lies in the fact that private school statistics include preschool education (which is overwhelmingly private and low paying). Further, as we mentioned, private school teachers do not necessarily have teaching credentials, and this is a factor in school salaries too (although having higher degrees and specialized areas is related to salary, and is more typical of K-12 private school teachers). Also, the disparities among public school districts makes mean levels difficult to interpret. (For instance, although a state level for public school pay may be $30,000, there may be large discrepancies among individual counties/districts). Also, merit pay, which is offered in 11% of all private schools, is not common in the public schools, and private schools may individually negotiate contracts with teachers, while such a practice is unheard of in the public schools. (source: http://www.adti.net/teacherchoice/paidmore.html).

In general, private schools function more like businesses, in that market demand and merit increases allow for increased opportunity and salaries. However, because of unions, certification, and local public funding, it would be better to be a public school teacher in an affluent or moderately affluent district than in a private school in general, and better to be in a moderate private school than a public school teacher in a poorer district. (Given that there are a substantial number of lower working class or poorer districts in the U.S., the plight of th public school teacher is still problemmatic). Overall, private education may be more costly, but the cost may not always translate to teachers.

This leads to the question of mmmm..... if private school education is "better" and teacher pay isn't the main issue (in terms of teacher motivation, incentives, etc.), what types of other factors help explain the differences in performance and higher education/occupational attainment in public and private schools? School resources? Parental values? Parental resources? The types of teachers in the public and private systems? Curriculum? Issues with retention, standards, and unions (as mentioned in class), Different school philosophies and emphases? Individual motivation and ability? Policies that affect groups and individuals differentially? Policies that hinder learning? Others reasons? Combinations of the above?

These are all things that we will address as we continue class discussion!!!!!