Texas Teachers Taking Second And Third Jobs To Support Their Families

An annual study conducted by the Sam Houston State University in Texas shows that many of the state's teachers are forced to take on extra jobs to supplement their income. The Dallas Morning News reports the university found that four out of every 10 teachers -- the highest percentage in 30 years -- take on second, even third, jobs.

"It can be tough for a teacher with a family to make ends meet," said [3rd grade teacher Nena] Harrison.

The university's survey also shows that two thirds of all Texas teachers who work extra jobs feel that they would be able to provide higher quality teaching if they weren't stretched too thin by their other jobs. Rita Haecker, President of the Texas State Teachers Association, believes that the study's findings point to the need to increase teachers' salaries.

Despite the financial struggles, dedicated teachers continue to work side jobs, so they can stick with the profession they love.

Linda Reichle, a special education teacher at Marcus Elementary, is one of those teachers who is the breadwinner in her family -- her husband is disabled -- and she must earn extra income to pay all the bills. She works about 25 hours a week outside of teaching, as a real estate agent, Wal-Mart employee and an after-school tutor.

"My teacher salary just doesn't cut it," she said. "People might ask, 'Why don't you just get another job that pays more?' But I love teaching, and I love the kids and wouldn't want to do anything else."

Comments

[GeoLee]

02:27 AM on 08/18/2010

This is certainly not a new phenomenon. I worked at a second job for my last 16 years of employment in my school district. Almost all male teachers have second jobs and often third and many of the female teachers, especially those teaching middle and high school students. I work as a social worker at a 24/7 crisis center and 90% of the part time workers work in the public school systems in and around our community.

[AbeMartin]

12:05 PM on 08/09/2010

I'm surprised. Judging from the serial stupidity being expressed by Rick Perry, John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Tom DeLay, Ron Paul, assorted Bushes, Joe Barton, and the State Commission which determines which text books to buy, I believed that any teacher worth his or own spit had left Tay-ax-us for civilization years ago.

[angrymanspokane]

10:24 AM on 07/27/2010

Bombs and tanks,
billions for banks,
our children are learning,
that greed keeps the world turning

[Tunghoy]

10:12 PM on 07/25/2010

Around here, I've been suggesting that schools change their names to Halliburton or Blackwater. They might be able to confuse the government and get millions of dollars dropped in their laps.

[LightShadow62]

08:32 PM on 07/25/2010

No surprise here.

[marind]

11:55 AM on 07/25/2010

As my accountant says, "You can tell just about everything about someone if you know how they spend their money."

Nice shiny bombs and CEO millions.

Crumbling schools and moonlighting teachers.

Says it all.

[OKSunny]

11:15 AM on 07/27/2010

so sad....

[marind]

10:07 AM on 07/25/2010

It's becoming a cliche that we feed the military monster but starve our schools. A cliche because we keep doing it. Over and over and over and over and....

[GeoLee]

02:29 AM on 08/18/2010

Well, it is one way to keep getting fuel for the military fodder of wars. If you educate people too much, they won't joint the military unless there are no other jobs available.

[pattypank]

02:32 PM on 07/24/2010

Those that think a teacher's salary is equal to the work, let me ask you this: Have you children in the public school system? Have you volunteered to see what a typical day is like? Can you hold your bladder for hours? Hope so, you can't leave the room unattended. And, when you do go, is the bathroom something other than what looks like a gas station rest room, possibly on the other side of the campus? Are you available to take phone calls up until 9pm and on weekends? Can you supply your students (all 32+), your furniture, reading books, room decorations, and other teaching supplies for the $75(!) provided at my school? Can you spend weekends, weeknights, and holidays on lesson plans and required paperwork? What about the school events, like open house night, conferences, going to student homes, meeting with specialists for IEP or other meetings for students? Can you professionally teach, be a role model, psychiatrist, nurse, advocate, secretary, etc., everyday and all day? Can you inspire and give more than 100% without knowing if you'll be hired the following year for reasons beyond your control? I never left my children with someone for 180 days and not know what they and their job is about. I'd want the best for them. Do you feel the same? If not and you're still willing to complain, you're looking for a glorified babysitter, not a teacher.

[AbeMartin]

12:08 PM on 08/09/2010

Fanned and faved. It is a sin against civilization that those who answer the call to teach are treated despicably. Thank you to you and the hundreds of thousands of dedicated, unpaid and underappreciated teachers, for your contributions to our nation's children.

[AmigaMan]

01:19 AM on 09/02/2010

Fanned. I am becoming a high school History teacher next year. I've been a licensed substitute teacher for four years, so I know what I'm getting myself into. It's not easy, but I enjoy teaching History very much.

[mikey09]

11:16 AM on 07/24/2010

WHO isn't taking a second or thrid job, my brother-in-law is working 3, sign of the times I guess, we always here that police officers have a second job too.

[rtolmach]

10:20 PM on 07/23/2010

Teachers also end up spending their own money on classroom supplies that schools can't afford. Now, a new nonprofit can help: http://ClassWish.org. Teachers create Wish Lists. Visitors see exactly what is needed and make tax-deductible donations to help.

[Tunghoy]

10:09 PM on 07/25/2010

Also if you're a teacher or are part of a 501(c)(3) non-profit and want to receive donated software, go to www.techsoup.org. Microsoft, Adobe and other publishers will give you a single license for new software that you can load in your classroom.

[Schneb]

11:02 PM on 07/28/2010

Thanks--I'll look into this and spread the word to my fellow teachers.

[Spirit820]

05:27 PM on 07/23/2010

As a parent of a child in PS in texas this does bother me.

Less time a teach has to make their plans less my child learns (heck I had to play catch up all summer for things he did't get to learn that he should have)

I homeschool my other son and I can it's hard and that's just one child. We expect so much from teachers we need to give them to tools and the time they need to educate our children....the ones that one day will be running this country and taking care of us!

please while figuring out how much they make remember many have student loans they have to pay back (one teacher i know has her masters and has about 800 a month is student loans) and still has to pay for recert classes and such.

we do not value the right people in this country and we pay backwards because of it. We pay sports stars more than we pay those that risk their lives and educate our children.

We pay troops going to war such a little bit and ask so much from then and their families. Simple fact is we need to focus on who we truly value in this country.

[Spirit820]

05:28 PM on 07/23/2010

Wow sorry for the typos

[AbeMartin]

12:10 PM on 08/09/2010

Hit the preview comment key and then read your comments aloud. (We understand what you are saying)

[Daoine]

10:56 AM on 07/26/2010

Fanned and faved. Thank you Spirit820!

[Red Crow]

02:31 PM on 07/23/2010

"Man truly achieves his full human condition when he produces without being compelled by the physical necessity of selling himself as a commodity."

— Che Guevara, Man and Socialism in Cuba, 1965

http://www.sadena.com/Books-Texts/Che%20Guevara%20-%20Man%20and%20Socialism%20in%20Cuba.pdf

[Red Crow]

01:48 PM on 07/23/2010

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate the grave evils of capitalism, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow-men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society."

---- ALBERT EINSTEIN, 'Why Socialism?', 1949

http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einstein.php

[hdc77494]

12:05 AM on 07/26/2010

Yes, it's worked so well everywhere it's been tried...

[maninla]

01:25 PM on 07/23/2010

Judging from other Republican posts regarding other stories, I think it's fair to say their reply to this story would be..."Why don't you just get another job, if this one doesn't pay enough to make a living? Quit complaining. You're a teacher...you work nine months out of the year."

Yikes. I stopped typing after the first paragraph because I thought it was "too much". BUT then I read some of the comments. Ding! Right on the nose.

Apparently the GOP doesn't value eduaction any longer. And Texas is one of the cheaper states to live in. If people are taking 2nd and 3rd jobs to make ends meet, something is very wrong is this VERY conservative state.

Please, somebody...MESS WITH TEXAS!

[phaedrus74]

02:10 PM on 07/23/2010

As a teacher in TX, I can tell you that property taxes are hell on a teacher's salary. If one lives in or near a larger city, property taxes can range from $3K-$10K per month plus the mortgage. Unfortunately, all those property taxes don't filter down to teacher paychecks.
Also, the 9-month year is a by-gone practice. After professional development classes and other trainings, teachers generally have a whopping 45-days for summer vacation.

[hdc77494]

12:07 AM on 07/26/2010

I live in a suburb of Houston TX, in a 300k house, and my property taxes (including about 2/3school taxes), are about $700 per month. If you're paying $3k a month in taxes, you live in a million dollar house.

[born 2b different]

09:05 AM on 07/26/2010

sell the house and rent...duh!

[Red Crow]

01:08 PM on 07/23/2010

We can’t do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves.