303 Ashe Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27606

October 22, 2016

Dear Future President,

I am addressing the issue of higher teacher pay in the state of North Carolina. Throughout my eight years of schooling I have seen teachers really making an effort to help their students succeed both through school and in life's obstacles. Seeing this I have high respect for each and every one of my teachers. According to WRAL North Carolina’s teacher pay is $10,000 less than the average pay in the United States. Reported by NCAE we are ranked 43rd in the country for teacher pay. Over the years there has been a large decrease in the pay that teachers received in North Carolina. In 2006 with a Masters and NBPTs certification and 30+ years (Which is the highest you can go) they made $61,380. Below are some statistics on other state averages for teacher pay that are on the Southeast side of the country. Georgia - 53,382,Kentucky - 51,093,Virginia - 50, 620, Alabama - 49,497,Florida - 48,992, South Carolina - 48,709, Tennessee- 48,503, Arkansas - 48,017, Louisiana - 47,886. Since 1999 teacher pay has dropped by 13.3%. Currently the average teacher pay in North Carolina is $47,783. According to take part he highest paid state is Michigan. Teachers currently get paid $61,560 a year. Comparing both of them we are behind by $13,777! There is only about 859 miles in between us and we have that big of a difference in teacher pay! So why is this topic important? Well this is an important topic because in order to receive you have to give. This relates to the government because in order to receive good quality teachers you have to provide them with good quality money. Teachers work way too hard for you to not pay them hardly anything.Being a teacher is not a walk in park. According to UpWorthy.com teachers work about 12 - 16 hours a day. Breaking Down a Teachers Day:

A standard school day (8 hours).

After school and before school help(1-2 hours): Many students stay for some form of tutoring in the afternoons or mornings to get either a head start or to more indepthly learn the material if they don’t quite understand in class.

Answering emails, parent conferences, making phone calls, attending state required meetings, grading papers, making their lesson plan for the upcoming day etc. (3-5 hours)

Most say they receive plenty of money especially since they are allowed a summer break. Is it really a break? According to UpWorthy.com teachers spend about 8 weeks still working after the last day of school.Breaking down a teacher’s summer:

1 week: It is required that teachers stay two days after school ends and 5 days before school starts.

About 3 weeks : Planning the curriculum for the upcoming school year.

About 4 weeks : A Lot of teachers might show up a month before school starts to prepare the classroom, participate in meetings, to complete training etc. There is an argument on whether it is really a positive thing to pay teachers more when we still have to pay for the students expenses. For some examples bus gas, technology, light bill, maintenance, supplies, etc. Paying teachers all goes back to not receiving if you don’t give. In order to get teachers that really care, that are artistic, that really put an effort toward not only the students but the school itself then you have to be willing to give just a little more than you want to, to get a little more than you may need. Our future, my future depends on the amount you give to receive. If we have bad quality teachers then we will never have quality learning. That will automatically bump you down to just about the bottom in college because they expect the best not the average student or an okay one. So we won't do so well in college and we won't be prepared for life. All of us are depending on our schools to either turn our lives around or keep our lives at the steady track that it is already on. We are the future generation. If we are not the best then who will be?

From,

Hannah Alston

Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy