<p>Great points on this thread. </p>
<p>I would have become a high school teacher many years ago if only one of the following conditions had been satisfied: (a) the pay had been better or (b) administrations had not been so dictatorial regarding curriculum, testing etc. Now, state and federal governments are taking over where those administrations left off and making things even worse.</p>
<p>Teachers can and will make good lives for themselves, but getting into debt early and making a career where the housing cost/teacher salary ratio is bad are two mistakes to avoid. And it is not a profession for people that like to spend money and acquire a lot of things.</p>
<p>As for the overall level of teacher compensation, I agree with those who say good teachers are underpaid and poor ones are overpaid.</p>