is as simple as if you don't like the pay just don't teach. The problem is we need good teachers and many bail on the profession because you can't provide adequately for a family. Just choosing another profession does not solve the problem. You are merely looking at this issue as a supply and demand issue. We have lots of teachers so therefore we don't have to pay them as much. Instead it should be who are the best teachers out there to educate our children and what is an appropriate amount of money to pay them.

This is besides the point, but I personally think we should put all teachers on a 12 month contract, pay them more, but also raise the expectations and do whatever we can to recruit the best teachers.