Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 28 Unit 1 You—The Teacher of Tomorrow PHILOSOPHY of TEACHING Think about… The following question is intended to help guide you on your journey to writing your philosophy of education. Reflect on the question. Why do you want to teach? Write… Take a few minutes and jot down your thoughts about this question. Save your response for future reference and reflection throughout the text. Schools usually pay teachers extra wages for some out-of-class activities, such as coaching and advising clubs and activities, such as student council. In addition, since many schools have more than two months of vacation in the summer, teachers often take part-time jobs to boost their income or use this time for continuing education. For teachers who complete additional education, there is often an increase in pay. A four-year college or university degree is a requirement for school teachers. To encourage teachers to stay current in their field, however, many districts offer a higher salary for taking additional classes or obtaining an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree (Figure 1.19). Although public schools provide benefits that vary by district, most offer these additional benefits: ■ health insurance ■ retirement savings plans ■ leaves of absence, paid or unpaid and ■ various other benefits, including travel expenses to attend meetings or tuition reimbursement for the cost of additional education. Some public school districts, in an effort to attract top teaching can- didates, offer additional incentives such as signing bonuses. A few offer home-loan assistance and tax breaks for teachers living within the school district. Public schools receive funding from tax dollars. In good economic times, they may have extra money to spend. When the economy takes a downturn, their budgets tighten. Eliminating some programs and positions helps compensate for fewer funds. Still, teaching is one of the most basic occupations, and flexible teachers can find many ways to use their skills. Steve Debenport/E+/Getty Images Figure 1.19 A teacher with an advanced degree may earn more than one with a four-year degree.