In the “Our view” column of March 3 (“Big pay hike for Maine’s teachers would be costly”), a point of view is emphasized that is not in synch with that of the general public. Maine’s teachers consistently enjoy a high degree of respect and support from the statewide community as evidenced by polling data, buttressed by the following facts:
The high quality of instruction Maine schools have enjoyed over the last decade is due in large part to the high quality of its well-educated, experienced teachers. Unfortunately, a large number of them are at or near retirement age with more than two-thirds (67.3 percent) over age 45 and nearly one-third (30 percent) over 55.
This means the teacher-force upon which the future quality of our students’ education depends must be recruited now and retained in the classroom during the years ahead. That is becoming increasingly difficult due to increased state and federal mandates, heavy workloads, and a loss of teaching time that create poor teaching/learning conditions.
To compound the recruitment problem, Maine’s beginning teacher salary as required by law is only $15,500 (stagnant since having been adopted nearly twenty years ago); Maine’s average beginning teacher salary rates 45th in the nation, well behind our neighboring New England states.
Likewise, Maine’s average teacher salary, a key to retaining good teachers, actually declined from 2003-04 to 2004-05 (an unprecedented drop) and is only 38th in the nation. The average salary of $39,610 for 2004-05 is $8,087 below the national average and $4,331 below the next lowest state in the region.
Simply stated, the teaching environment is deteriorating and Maine’s salaries are not competitive, which threatens the quality of our teacher workforce and puts our schools in jeopardy. The recruitment and retention problem is particularly acute in our small rural schools. To ensure a high quality education for our children over the next 10 years we must act now to improve salaries.
Public opinion polls conducted in 2002, 2004 and 2005 all confirm voters’ support for their teachers. In a December 2005 poll 84 percent of voters said that teachers are doing a good or excellent job – with 94 percent of public school parents giving them a positive rating.
The public also sympathizes with the economic pressures that most teachers face. Fully 64 percent of voters express the view that Maine teachers are underpaid.
Given public support for high quality schools and the need to recruit and retain high quality teachers, Gov. John Baldacci has initiated legislation to raise the minimum salary to $30,000. This minimum salary will be paid for by the transfer of funds from other accounts within the Department of Education budget. It would not necessitate a tax increase at either the state or local level and would be a major benefit to small, rural schools and high receivers of state aid.
The Legislature should pass the governor’s budget as proposed.
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