Budget Battle

I am most passionate about teachers recieving their collective bargaining benefits.  Having good teachers is very important to the success of education.  Teachers do not recieve very good pay.  The average teacher in the state of Wisconsin makes around 40,000 and that is after earning a four year degree and a masters degree.  With the benefits that they recieve they earn around 55,000.  Arguments are made that teachers only work part of the year... some teachers coach and manage clubs.  All teachers are responsible for grading homework, tests, as well as preparing the next days task.  In the state of Wisconsin most teachers arrive at school around 7am teach classes until 3pm, prepare for the next days class until around 4.  Then go home tend to their families.  The free time in their night consists of grading papers.  For a teacher that coaches they have to find time within their day to prepare for the next day, after school they go to practice from 3pm to 6pm.  So the person who makes that argument in my opinion is off base.  Most teachers work around 12 hour days and only earn $40,000.  The benefits they earn help them live at a comfortable level.  If they had to pay for these benefits they would be around the poverty level.  These people I would like to remind you, they have earned masters degrees.  If you know of a career that works 12 hour days with a masters degree and makes less then a teacher I'd like to hear about that career.