[trojangal]

Okay, I have been on both sides of the fence as a private school employee and a public school employee.

As a private school employee, the pay was very low. My first teaching job was $14,500 for a MASTER's degree. They offered insurance, but it was so expensive that I couldn't afford it! The other private schools were better, at above the $20K mark, with health insurance and slightly better benefits.

As a public school employee, I am earning a significantly higher salary and I have better benefits. I am thankful every day that I have this position.

Most Masters and PhDs in Education are designed to help the teacher become familiar with the most current practices in education and learn about other areas of education ( administration), and to provide teachers with classes that will help them become highly qualified.

This is especially important now under the No Child Left Behind legislation. Schools in Alabama will not hire a new teacher/experienced teacher unless he/she is "highly" qualified according to those guidelines.