From the Anash.org Inbox: I’ve been following the discussion about teachers in our mosdos, and I feel like I must add in my input – which is actually just the Rebbe’s words: teachers’ salaries must be equal to their businessmen peers for the success of our children’s chinuch.
By An Aware Parent
I’ve been following the discussion about paying teachers in our mosdos, and I feel like I must add in my input- which is actually not my input at all – but the Rebbe’s words on the topic. In the Rebbe’s view expressed in this sicha, teachers’ salaries should be equal to their fellow businessmen peers for the success of our children’s chinuch.
Here are the Rebbe’s words from Motzaei Shabbos Parshas Eikev, Shabbos Mevarchim Elul, 5738:
“Given the necessity to involve each Jewish child in a program of Torah education, it is important to have the most qualified and skilled teachers possible. And since the current situation is one in which financial worries occupy a prominent place, it is necessary, in order to secure the best teachers, to alleviate their financial worries as much as possible.
“It is, therefore my suggestion and request, that beginning with this school year, all those involved in education (teachers, Roshei Yeshivos, Mashpi’im, etc.) should receive a 10% salary raise in addition to whatever raises they had been given in the past, or were scheduled to receive in the immediate or distant future.
“This raise will relieve or at least reduce a teacher’s financial worries, and allow them to devote more attention to, and become more involved with their students. Also, they will see that their work and their dedication (and the goal to which they are dedicated — providing every child with a proper education) is appreciated and valued.
“It is possible that this suggestion may upset the school’s administration and bookkeeper. However, an analogy given by the Frierdiker Rebbe will calm their discomfort.
“The Frierdiker Rebbe explained that in Russia, the trains were divided into 3 sections, each more plush than the other. A person of moderate means would always travel 3rd class. Even a rich man would travel only second class. However, a poor man would always travel first class.
“Why would he be moved to such extravagance? The other two types of people paid for their tickets from their savings; therefore they felt it necessary to curb their spending. The poor man had no money and had to borrow to pay for his ticket. Since he was already borrowing money, he felt he might as well borrow a little more and travel first-class…
“Similarly, those administrators who are concerned about the size of their deficit should give the teachers the raise suggested despite their fears. Since they are anyway operating in a deficient situation, an increase in the deficit shouldn’t trouble them.
“The Frierdiker Rebbe related that from the time he became involved in public affairs, each year he closed his accounts in the debt column. He was able to pay off that deficit over the course of the following year. Yet the following year’s accounts closed with a greater deficit, which was again paid off in the coming year, etc. He described this pattern as a sign of living work.
“The point of the matter is that the size of the deficit is unimportant. What is important is the standard of the education which the children receive. This is particularly true as Hashem has declared, ‘I am the master of gold, I am the master of silver’ and has promised to pay the entire cost of furthering Jewish education.”
Would love if Hashem gives a brocha to arrange that our teachers and school staff can get health insurance, retirement benefits, family leave benefits. Could attract and maintain staff— including administrative which is very important.
“At the time, only the salaries of the leadership of Lubavitch of London was in comparison with the commercial levels of salary. The Rebbe agreed that the teachers should also receive the commercial level of salaries, and added that resources necessary for personal self-respect, including a special allowance for entertaining, should be provided for all Lubavitch employees, not just for the top three.
“It would be appropriate for the leadership to receive ten to fifteen percent above the others,” the Rebbe said, “Teachers should have the same as [the salaries paid] in other establishments—perhaps £1 or £2 more. Even if this will increase the deficit, it is okay.””
https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/1271297/jewish/Discussing-Lubavitch-Activities-and-Expansion.htm#:~:text=At%20the%20time,it%20is%20okay.%22
“Given the necessity to involve each Jewish child in a program of Torah education, it is important to have the most qualified and skilled teachers possible.”
I look forward to one day having skilled educated teachers who are willing to learn not only teach by repetition but actually willing to Learn the equivalent of Master’s degree in Childhood or Early Childhood Education so our children have healthy childhood experiences where they spend 8 hours a day.
Professionals don’t become professional without education. Expensive education, years of education.
A teacher who becomes a master teacher deserves to be paid as a professional.
And don’t forget…. If you pay a teacher 125,000 a year… he has to realize that he will be paying taxes…. Losing all his benefits which between child care, self care, insurance, food assistance etc.,all the perks of being paid as a Rebbe…
And don’t forget reduced or free tuition. Tuition for 5 children today can be upwards of 40,000.
Add that to a melamad’s pay.
And unlike “regular Jobs” where each day of yom tov goes to vacation or sick days… I don’t think a Malamud parnossa issues are any more concerning than a regular Baal habos. Actually think it’s less….
Because unlike the “businessman making 180,000 a year, being taxed 50,00. Expected to pay full tuition and more….
How many melamdim don’t own homes? And summer homes? Somehow the system is working for them.
Yasher Koach to all the amazing teachers out there.
The Rebbe doesn’t say anything about giving professional pay only to a melamed with a Masters degree or anything similar (something that we know that the Rebbe was strongly opposed to). Melamdim in 5738 did not have any degree and yet the Rebbe says that they should be paid like professionals.
Besides, a degree has little to do with expertise. We all know experts who don’t have any degree and people with degrees who are clueless… We can appreciate talent and dedication for what it is, and a piece of paper or some alphabet doesn’t change that.