We need better support for our teachers

Teaching is one of the most honorable professions a person could ever occupy. To be a teacher means to be a humble servant to the next generation and beyond. Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a teacher. The excitement it brings when you see a young child's face light up when they learn a new word or how to solve a math equation is incredibly rewarding. Just ask a teacher! Teachers play such an important role in the lives of our children, a role that should not be taken lightly; after all, the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.

I have the utmost respect for you, our teachers in Idaho - you obviously teach because you have a love for children, a passion for teaching, and a desire to make a difference in the lives of our kids. You must teach out of the goodness of your heart because you certainly do not do it for the paycheck. We are lucky to have so many great teachers - teachers who are willing to teach even though they're paid so little for what they do.

I am not certain if that will always be the case unless changes are made in the way we compensate our teachers. According to the NEA, teachers' average starting salary in Idaho is $29,915/year (National Education Association, 2013-2014). With the amount of education required to become a teacher, not to mention the student loans which must be paid for out of that salary, it is a wonder that so many incredible teachers choose to teach in Idaho. A teacher could choose to cross the border into Washington and receive a $7,000/year raise - that has to be tempting.

I believe as parents we all want the same thing for our children. We want them to be successful in life, responsible citizens of our community, and self-sufficient. That begins with a good education starting with great teachers. With a good education our children will have a brighter future and more opportunities than their classmates that choose not to pursue a higher education.

According to the most recent data available, provided by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), Idaho now ranks 50th in the country for the percentage of high school seniors that go on to college; that means we are dead last in the nation for producing college graduates. If you want to earn more than $10 per hour, you need a college education or a rich uncle. Yes, earning $10 per hour is higher than Idaho's minimum wage of $7.25/hour, but have you ever tried to raise a family on $1,600/month? It doesn't go very far.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states, "Workers 25 and older in 2013 reported those with a bachelor's degree earned 59 percent more than those with a high school diploma. As that figure grows, chances of unemployment shrink as a worker's educational attainment improves" (Bernardo, 2014).

As part of a family with five children, I've had the awesome opportunity to get to know some of the best people on the planet, our teachers! Volunteering in the classroom over the years has opened my eyes to the amount of workload and effort that goes into a day's production of teaching. Most teachers I know work tirelessly (10-12 hours per day), spend their own money on supplies, and always go the extra mile to ensure our children are receiving the best education possible. It must be the most rewarding and endearing professions of all time. Yet, to become aware of the fact that they are not getting paid what they obviously deserve, is just plain wrong! How can this be and how may we fix it?

Re-electing Gov. Butch Otter for a third term is baffling when it comes to education alone. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to have the greatest track record for paying our teachers adequately enough for what they do. By not putting education first in a state that is ranked so close to the bottom is simply mind-boggling. As parents, we can no longer sit silent on such an important topic. I have been a conservative most of my adult life, but when justice is not served, it doesn't matter what side of the fence you're on - injustice is injustice in any color.

I realize our governor is here to stay for another term, but he and other elected officials need to know, it is time to get out of last place in education and rise above. Recently Gov. Otter vowed to raise teachers' pay to $40,000/year over the next five years, according to a survey from WalletHub. In the article from the Press Room, Otter states:

"I want Idaho to be a better state for teachers. That's why I put together the Task Force for Improving Education (TFIE) with the goal of removing the politics and angst from the conversation in order to get to the heart of what is right for Idaho students, teachers and our communities. The task force developed a five-year, $350 million plan with 20 recommendations that I support (Kacey Emery, 2014)."

As citizens of this great state we need to hold Idaho's government accountable to their promises made for education. Our children deserve the best possible education they can get so that they will be globally competitive in their future. We need to do whatever it takes to get there. The future of our country depends on it. Are we as a community willing to do whatever it takes to get there? Are we as a society willing to increase our taxes by a few dollars a day to ensure our teachers are adequately paid for the betterment of our children? Emphatically that is a YES for me!

We need to fix this problem together! Let's get Idaho in the top spot of education.

Kelly Ferguson is a Coeur d'Alene resident.