WASHINGTON -- Teachers are worth at least 25 percent more than the average national salary of $33,000 and more strikes are likely this fall to pry money out of states, the National Education Association said Tuesday.
The NEA, the nation's largest teachers' union, released a state-by- state comparison of public school teacher salaries and other data on number of pupils, teachers and amount of spending in each state. The information was released on National Teacher Day.
'While salaries of classroomteachers increased by 5.4 percent last year to a national average of $33,015, they still do not measure up to what a teacher's professional expertise is worth,' said NEA President Keith Geiger. 'If a teacher is paid a comparable salary to other professions, you would have to raise salaries around 25 percent.'
Thirty-six states pay teachers below the national average of $33,015.
Alaska pays the nation's highest teacher wage in the 1990-91 school year -- $43,861, up 1.64 percent from the 1989-90 school year. Connecticut came in second, currently paying teachers $43,847, up 8.37 percent from 1989-90. Washington, D.C., has the nation's third highest- paid teachers, at $42,288, up 11.43 percent from the previous year.
At the bottom of the pay scale, North Dakota, in 49th place, pays its teachers $23,587, up 2.44 percent from the 1989-90 year. Arkansas, No. 50th, pays its teachers $23,040, up 3.08 percent. And in 51st place, South Dakota pays its teachers $22,363, up 4.99 percent.
West Virginia teachers, fresh from a statewide strike, received a 13. 64 percent hike in wages for a 1990-91 salary of $25,958. They got the largest percentage increase of any state but still ranked 44th.
Teachers in the state of Washington, ranked 16th, were on strike for 13 days until April 28, when the state legislature adjourned. They returned at their current salary of $32,975, but their situation will be reassessed when the legislature comes back in special session June 15.
Geiger said salaries are indexed for cost-of-living differences around the country and conceded teachers do better in some years than others, but he contended the wide range of salaries and the $33,000 average cannot be justified.
He complained that the federal share of the total school dollar, now at 6.2 percent, is at its lowest point since 1965. And simultaneously, financially strapped state and local governments are looking for ways to trim their budgets.
'Thirty states are looking at budget cuts that will have a dramatic effect (on salaries). I would not be surprised to see more teacher strikes,' Geiger said. 'This might be the most difficult fall for collective bargaining in many years.'
He added that in states where strikes are not allowed, 'I would suspect a work slowdown would be the most effective.'
Geiger said the NEA 'does not promote' strikes or work slowdowns, but once they are initiated, the national organization wholeheartedly supports them.
Other data on public school education from the NEA report:
--Elementary school enrollment in 1990-91 increased 2 percent from 1989-90, while secondary school enrollment was virtually unchanged.
--Number of classroom teachers increased 1.8 percent.
--Per pupil expenditures rose 5.2 percent, with the 1990-91 national average at $5,208.
