Posting highest NJ paid teachers

On Patch today reportedly the highest paid teachers earning over $100,000 in New Jersey were posted. I am interested in learning the intent and opinion of the author of this posting. I'd also like to know if I can I find the highest paid Wall street professionals on Patch? In this writer's opinion the list is pitiful; as it is much too short. More teachers in NJ should be making a salary conducive to standards of living in NJ. Teachers educate all of the children in New Jersey. They teach children much more then reading, writing and math. As a society we are dependent on educators to prepare our children for the future and well- being of New Jersey. The salary of an educator should be higher then most professions as what profession is more important for the future of our children?

My opinion is not biased. However, it is based on experience. My father taught high school biology in NJ for 50 years and still has the admiration and respect of many of his former students. Many of his students went on to become physicians, scientists, engineers and more in part due to his passion for science and the interest he created. He never was home for an early dinner due to after school activities and he worked several jobs to keep his family comfortable. If it were not for my father many lives would likely have been different. I've seen his impact on children through a few generations of families. Many of his former students are now colleagues and friends and visit him every Christmas.

My daughter is a young Master's prepared elementary school teacher in Newark NJ. She has 90,000 dollars in school loans. Not a night goes by where she is not up until after 1000 Pm writing lesson plans, grading papers and planning for the next day. Her trips to the store for school supplies and items her children need using her own money are at minimum weekly. She arrived home at 7 tonight having had a parent meeting . Her colleagues and all professionals at her school feed every child breakfast on every school day She is already planning summer work to keep up her loan payments.

My fear is that the Patch posting of teachers salaries was written to create disdain for six figure teacher incomes. Id like to challenge anyone to list a more important job then a teacher. We need the best and brightest in teaching positions and they need to be paid on a level comparable to peers in other less altruistic professions. Please consider posting an article on the values and assets of teachers and what they deserve to earn.

In recent years teachers pensions have been cut, health insurance benefits have been lessened and responsibilities have multiplied.

I am thankful for every teacher in NJ including the groups of great ones, the high paid ones, the new ones, and even the mediocre ones as they all teach our children something. I think the citizens of NJ need to be more appreciative of what teachers do for our society. Let's face it folks, you would not be reading this post and I would not be typing on my computer were it not for a teacher.