“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Teachers unions have power, but it is far from absolute. Imagine what goes on at the levels of government where real power resides.

From American Thinker comes this piece about “millionaires:”

December 14, 2010

The good life on 36 weeks a year of work

Thomas Lifson

Champion News has just published data on the top teacher salaries in Illinois, making it clear that unionization has enabled a massive raid on the taxpayers’ funds. Teaching can be a noble profession, but many of these teachers are cleaning up like bandits for a 9-month work year. In all, over 14,000 teachers in this one state make more than 100,000 a year in salary. When you add in pension, health care, and other benefits (15 days a year of sick leave, payable upon retirement if not used), which can add another 40% or more to salary, these teachers are doing much better than most college professors and many doctors.

• A Phys Ed teacher $191,124 for a 9 month work year.
• 19 who made more over $1,000/day including 6 Phys Ed and three drama/music teachers.
• A Drivers Ed teacher whose salary is $18,205/month to teach teenagers how to parallel park.
• Six teachers make more than the Governor’s $177,500.
• Top 100 Teachers average $17,603 per month salary.

$100,000 Teacher Salaries By Subject -　Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2010
Subject	2010 HighSalary	Greater $100K2010	Greater $100K2009	Increase 2010 vs.2009
Art	154,748	166	145	14.48%	Art
Clothing/Apparel	144,895	9	7	28.57%	Clothing/Apparel
Drama	171,595	26	24	8.33%	Drama
Drive Ed	164,985	138	132	4.55%	Drive Ed
Elementary Education	137,175	800	556	43.88%	Elementary Education
English	189,219	493	430	14.65%	English
Foodservice	131,005	20	15	33.33%	Foodservice
French	172,992	49	40	22.50%	French
Latin	145,596	9	8	12.50%	Latin
Librarians	154,071	193	111	73.87%	Librarians
Music	164,415	275	231	19.05%	Music
Nurse	136,166	26	23	13.04%	Nurse
Phys Ed	191,124	710	591	20.14%	Phys Ed
Speech	167,476	123	92	33.70%	Speech
SOURCES:
Salaries from ISBE, Teacher Service Records year Ending 6/30/10

When you add in the value of benefits, it is clear that many of these teachers qualify as “millionaires and billionaires” according to the arguments Democrats used on taxes last week.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky

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