NPR: Question for teachers

AggieCouple

A question regarding teachers of subjects like Calculus, Physics, and Computer Science:  I seem to recall they only teach a few periods a day.  In those situations, is the pay prorated?  Or do they fulfill another role for the rest of the day?  Or since these may be considered more advanced subjects (and thus, may require more certification/whatever), they get paid the same amount for teaching less hours?

I'm talking about public school, btw. 

TIA for the insight.  I tried googling but nothin'. 

KrisBriMcBunny

My neice is a math teacher but is only considered part time since she only teaches 2 periods.  However she is also an "in school sub".  This is where part time teachers sub for full time teachers.  She has her part time salary but gets paid sub teacher pay rate for the classes she subs.

prism207

Unless they are part time teachers they also teach other classes.  Teaching higher level classes does not equate to more pay, nor does it require extra certifications.

Although at my high school there were enough calc and physics classes to fill at least one teachers schedule, so it depends on the size of the school whether or not the teachers have a full schedule of one topic.

monkeyqueen

Here (Canada) - holding a teaching certificate means that you are certified to teach K - 12 (people are still hired on the basis of what their areas of expertise are, but it is not limited to that -- within reason), so if the science teacher is hired full time that means that particular teacher's schedule will be filled.    We have a very small school with a small teaching staff.    The teacher who teaches chemistry here, also teaches physics, biology, phys.ed, music (he has a strong background in music), and health.   Full-time teachers are also entitled to prep periods (how many -if at all - depends on the collective agreement).

The math teacher here teaches all senior level math subjects and I think a Social Studies class - she is part-time.

eta:  Pay is based on years of teaching, education, and full-time/part-time, etc.   It is not based on which subjects are taught.   

This is a neat post for me, because it's fun to see how things work in the States.....

 

BrainySmurfette

I'm a HS physics teacher, and I have a full teaching load exactly the same size as that of my colleagues.  I get paid the same, too.  In my state, science certs are by subject area, so licenses as specific in physics, chemistry, biology and earth science.  Calculus is included in the grades 8-12 math license.

r9stedt

prism207:

Unless they are part time teachers they also teach other classes.  Teaching higher level classes does not equate to more pay, nor does it require extra certifications.

Although at my high school there were enough calc and physics classes to fill at least one teachers schedule, so it depends on the size of the school whether or not the teachers have a full schedule of one topic.

Some states it does require extra certification. 

mathteacher

I was a math teacher and my pay was the same pay scale as all of the other teachers for the district.

 

There were a couple years when I didn't have enough math classes so they had me also teach physical science and astronomy (for which I am also certified).