So I look at them, as well as my taxes, as part of the dwindling lump sum that is my base compensation. No tax-paid tooth fairy comes around once a month to pick up most of the tab for my retirement and insurance costs. I notice teachers have received a total of 24 percent in raises in the past four years. Not many private-business employees can boast of increases that approach that level. Even so, those raises are wonderful.
Teachers deserve every penny and more.
Georgia' s teachers have been woefully underpaid for years. I'm on the teachers' side. Taxpayers have a right to receive measurable value for their money in every government endeavor, including education. Bill Shipp is editor of Bill Shipp's Georgia, a weekly newsletter on government and business.