Magnus,
Here’s a link for you. Click on any state to find where the state ranks in teacher pay.
http://www.aft.org/presscenter/releases/2007/salary_map.htm
Don Z.
Teachers near me in Tennessee are complaining about only earning around $45,000/9 months in an area where wages average less than $20,000/year. Teachers have a very strong union in this country.
Truck drivers can make really good money if you get in with the right company. (and no ungrateful kids with weapons to deal with[:P])
Saaaay, you’re sharp today, Don me man! [:D]
I’m just happy to be able to help other members for a change…instead of being the one asking questions.
Don Z.
Don’t forget the fabulous pensions.
Seriously, most schools do not suffer from the violence which shows up on the news. A significant minority of them, primarily in the inner cities serving poorer communities, do have problems with kids bringing weapons to school, but most schools are safe for both students and teachers.
In general, schools in the US are managed very independently by the cities and towns. There is some attempt at setting standards on the state level, and almost nothing on the federal government level. Teacher salaries are negotiated by each town, and they can vary widely. As you might expect, the richer communities (generally the safer ones, too) will pay their teachers better, and can choose the more capable teachers as well. This is also where you’ll find more parental involvement (on the good side) and where the kids will be more motivated towards learning.
The American educational system consists of both public and private schools. Most children go to public schools, which range from very good all the way down to horrible. Private schools (including religious schools) are generally considered better, but they charge tuition (which public schools don’t) and they have the option of getting rid of “problems,” which the public schools can’t. Private schools are independent of their communities, and don’t typically have much government oversight, or teachers’ unions, either. They are also much more selective in their hiring.
P.S.-It’s really nice to see someone say they love the U.S. for a change. [tup][:)]
Thanks for all the info guys. As a teacher in Sweden I would make about 40000$ as a starting wage. Maybe upwards of 50k if I get a good one. But then the taxes comes in. Starting at 34% where I live and then increasing in a terrific rate.
About the love U.S, it’s not a popular stand in Europe to say that you love the U.S, but there are quite a few of us. It’s just that the ones that don’t like the U.S is strongly represented among journalists to name a few, oh and teachers.
On a positive note, I’m right now at a school doing some fieldwork as a part of my education. We disscussed the U.S politics today and some of the kids have gained quite a lot of insight that not everything is black and white. Otherwise I often just got to hear that the U.S sucks because GW. Bush is stupid without the kids knowing anything about anything but Iraq. I always tell them that it’s good that they do have an opinion but that “well Americans are stupid” is not a valid argument.
Magnus
It’s just that the ones that don’t like the U.S is strongly represented among journalists to name a few,
Just like here![:D] You would pay about 30-35% in state and federal income tax and then an 8-10% sales tax on anything you buy. Some states don’t charge sales tax on food or clothing. Some do.
In Sweden sales tax is 25% on most items.
Quite a few people outside the US are very fond of America and Americans. We share a lot of history, and we share a lot of ideals with you guys.
A lot of Americans have qualities we also appreciate - being optimistic, friendly, generous, self reliant, competent and many more things. You guys are generally very easy to like.
Don’t confuse people not being overly fond of your present president, his administration and the ways they interact with both friends and foes with people not liking America. Most of us know that America is far more than just GWB and his administration.
Grin,
Stein, who loves getting off the plane in the US, but also getting on the plane going home
Teachers dont earn enough. They require Combat Pay. They dont get to do anything on thier own. It’s like having 5 million bosses second guessing thier daily work. In fact there is a sort of a atmosphere that some teachers cannot even touch thier students without some screaming abuse.
Stay away from US Trucking. You will be given a draconian schedule and if you get tired and be late, there are 50 more in the orientation trailer weekly at a average large company ready to take your place until they too burn out within 90 days.
Trucking costs YOU money to make money. Too much money. If you think about buying your own rig, dont do it. Stay home and work a safe hourly or salaried work and take care of your family. Keep this in mind. A truck requires about 1.20 per mile to break even and you need at least 50 cents a mile for yourself on top of that in order to make a payroll of any income. THen you need to put away 20 cents a mile until your engine blows up 3 years later and leaves you holding the bag on a 16,000 dollar new engine plus labor to put the thing in along with lost time sitting in the shop.
If you are broke and ask for a Comcheck, you will be deducted that money and sometimes run a negative balance owed to your company which might increase weekly against you while you and your family starve. I myself never went into a trucking outfit with less than 2000 dollars cash to bankroll the first 6 weeks of work.
I’ll shut up now.
Im glad you like the USA and her People. Not many do in this world. But to actually move here and try to make it? That is a very big gamble when one considers the lifestyle, medical coverage and working hours between the USA and Europe.
We are a free people. Not necessarily a happy people. You will find that we are a generous people, a very independant people who might sit for 4 weeks while the blizzard ran it’s course in need of no outside assistance. We like to get into everyone’s affairs except our own. lol.
If yer really rich
Not all states have a state income tax…for example, Texas. Our sales tax is 8.25% here in Austin.
Don Z.
[#ditto] Truck driving here in the US is about the closest thing to being a slave one can get. I know several who used to be professional private truck drivers - they all got out of the business due to the competition of the big companies. The big companies pay well, but the fines for being late are so steep the big pay goes away real quickly. The one person I know who drives professionally for a big company recently lost their house. They (he and his wife) cannot afford an apartment, are now homeless and living in the company truck (cringe). He says even like this it will take years to save enough money to start a normal life again. I am certain this is an extreme case and there were probably other cricumstances, but I’ve not met a truck driver lately who looks like they are doing well.
One of my more excruciating, frustrating, and angry moments came about three years ago when a couple of Liberal Party of Canada members, at least one of whom was also an elected Member of Parliament, snidely said into fawning journalists’ microphones, “God, I hate those bastards,” in one case, and the other said something similar. Funny that, a liberal invoking the name of the diety. Go figure.
Then the woman, the MP, repeated herself a few months later…and was wisely removed from her portfolio. This from the party that claims to be the most in-tune, enlightened, tolerant, embracing, and just gosh darned nice. Now that the Liberals are in a delicious state of disarray, I can look back at (her) and say, “So, how did that work out for ya?”
Grrrrrrr! Anyway, what I wanted to be clear is that there is no monopoly for dissing the Americans in Europe. There are plenty of Canadians who share those sentiments. Let me state categorically that I am not to be numbered with them.
-Crandell
The last comment applies to the view of Americans and welfare in Europe. I sure hope that Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” don’t get to much coverage over there because as a European I did not recognize my self in the parts that described Europe. We do have universal health coverage but it is not as good as described in the movie, at least not in Sweden. During the summer we don’t have a single doctor at the place I’m suppose to go to if anything happens to me or my kids for an example. Sure we live longer then most and are quite healthy. But the systems are hard to maintain with the generation which was born during the 40’s hitting old age. France are as we speak trying to reform their system since it’s going to be unable to continue in the future.
About trucking, right now i work extra as a truck driver and the pay is OK. I wouldn’t want to do it for a living. But as an example of how I work in Sweden for the Swedish governments post office I’ll tell you this. I get up at 3.30 in the morning, go straight to work, I then work all day with a few breaks tossed in 200 miles away from home that I spend sitting in my truck. I then finally get home at 18.00 to my family. How could it be worse, this for 2500$ a month, minus 34% tax.
That said, I know everything ain’t great in America just as it’s not so here either. Both have good and bad sides. But I love the liberal(as in the philosophy, not party) attitude of America. I love the idea of taking care of my self and not be relying on the government for everything.
Yes, I’ll admit it, I want t
Magnus,
We’d be glad to have you! I’ll leave the porch light on for you…just don’t expect to find a basement!
Don Z.
Hmmm… Well, there’s no accounting for taste, I suppose… [swg] You might want to try the great Heartland State of Kansas, instead… [:D]
Thanks [:D]
Well according to a song I like to listen to Texas is as big as heaven so I guess there is room enough for a large garage! Might even put a pick up in there. [:D]
I already got the Texas flag so I’m halfway there.
Magnus
Hmmm… Well, there’s no accounting for taste, I suppose… [swg] You might want to try the great Heartland State of Kansas, instead… [:D]