Years ago, and a couple of years out of college, I was contemplating a career in either law or education. After talking to friends who had already begun studying in these fields, I listened to my gut, and chose education. After graduate school, I began a career that brought me a lot of satisfaction, but never a lot of money. After a good ten years, I was offered a chance to get into the video game business, and I took it. It was a great experience and I was compensated at a rate far better than my best paying teaching position ever afforded me. Surprised? No, of course not.

Teachers work hard to get their master degrees and credentials, but the degrees and credentials do not necessarily convert to entitlements to wealth. Lots of other people work hard to earn their degrees. Not all degrees are the requisite for upward mobility. What kind of salary is a person holding an MA in philosophy commanding these days? In the community in which I live, a number of people have benefited from a strong labor union and make a much better living than most teachers. While they might not have toiled in the classrooms and earned their master degrees, these longshoremen certainly know what hard work is all about.

Some have mentioned that compensation at Sylvan does not compare to what a teacher makes in the public schools. Well, no. Then again, Sylvan teachers do not teach classes of thirty students; at most, it is only three. While I suspect the public school teacher also needs to attend an occasional PTA meeting, take papers home to correct and do sundry other things like planning a lesson, Sylvan teachers teach. There are no parent meetings to attend, no take-home work, no lesson creation. Directors and other administrative staff handle those duties. By the way, administrative staff place all the textbooks and other teaching materials on the table for the teacher. Teachers do not work from a worksheet. Still I wish I could compensate the teachers more (now, it’s $12 to $14 to start). I also wish my rent was lower, insurance costs were lower, and advertising was free.

No one’s saying that they expect to get rich teaching from a worksheet, but considering that Sylvan requires tutors to be experienced certified teachers, such low wages are insulting and bound to cause some resentment. And why would this inevitablility be avoided by employing people part time? I don’t know about Lisa, but I would be a lot more resentful about commuting 1/2 hr+ each way if I was only staying for 2 hours and making 20 bucks than if I were staying all day and making 80.

And arrogantly stating that people who find their jobs only “ok”should go find something more enjoyable, especially in this economy, shows a foolish lack of understanding of most people’s realities. A part time job that pays $10/hr is unlikely to ever be much more than ok. And that, for most people, is ok.

In school, my strengths had always been athletics. I never thought I would be able to excel in academics as well. Within one year of being a student at Sylvan, my overall school average went from 87.8% to 96.8%. Any grades lower than 90% were no longer acceptable to me. The standards I set for myself were greater than ever before because Sylvan helped me understand I was able to achieve them. The tears I was now shedding were tears of joy because I had exceeded my expectations.

Although the material I was taught was critical to my success, the most influential aspect of Sylvan was my relationships with the teachers. Since each teacher instructs a maximum of three students per hour, I was able to interact with them often – whether it was for a question pertaining to a given assignment or a question about a school-related topic. I always looked forward to seeing my teachers.

As my junior year of high school was coming to an end, so was my time at Sylvan. I loved the confidence Sylvan had given me. Now, all I wanted to do was help students gain that same confidence. As I was no longer a student at Sylvan, I applied and was hired for the position of teachers’ assistant.

I am currently working at Sylvan as a teacher and diagnostician. I now have the opportunity to help students exceed their own expectations and for that I can draw on my learning experiences at Sylvan. I will always thank Sylvan Learning for helping me to raise my standards and achieve goals I never thought possible.

-Liane, Sylvan Personal Instructor in NY

On the other side, is the teacher expecting to get rich on her classroom salary? I doubt it. And, if she only has to teach from a “worksheet”, does that really require her to make a wage that would make her rich? It kind of sounds like she might have the wrong idea about teaching at Sylvan which is a part-time job receiving part-time pay. Maybe if she were just doing it because she loved it, it would ensure that whatever the cost, it would be worth it for the child, who is really the one who counts. And if she is miserable and complaining, it probably isn’t beneficial for anyone. She should find a more enjoyable part time job. And, as a small business owner, I would like to point out that there are other costs in a business besides paying the part time help..there is rent, electricity, etc. Oh, and by the way, the hours are the hours. That can’t be Sylvan’s fault that kids are in school during the day, and I am pretty sure they don’t teach until midnight.

Sylvan is a great place for kids. I would recommended it.