Lewis Black | 12/6/18 Oklahoma City OK: Teacher Pay

Once upon a time teachers were paid enough to be in the middle class. Not so much any more. Lewis has a solution to the problem, and it involves oil wells. At least in Oklahoma.
Submit rants to Lewis: www.lewisblack...
Tour & ticket info: www.lewisblack...
#LewisBlack #Teachers #TeacherPay #OKC

[@sharonconway4303]

I didn't believe in myself. I had a great teacher who took me aside; she even drove me to take a State exam for a job which I passed with a very high grade. I got a very good job because of that. I'm 71 now and I will never forget her. She was magnificent.

[@solid311975]

I'm not technically minded but my tech ed teacher saw that and took me to an art supply shop bought all the necessary items and showed me how angles worked by making different shapes like octagons etc on his own time.

[@SandraNelson063]

On behalf of my late mother ( a teacher) I thank you. She was a teacher with the Ottawa Catholic School Board. After working her butt off for many years she finally got the special designation of becoming one of the highest paid teachers in the province. Oh, but she FOUGHT to get there! And she had to retire early because she couldn't tolerate the shenanigans of the ministry any more. She was a special ed teacher at the end of her career, because it was either THAT or becoming a principal. And there was a line she wouldn't cross.

[@ur22much2]

People think Teachers and Artists don't have to EAT, HAVE CLOTHING OR A PLACE TO LIVE. And on top of that, they expect Teachers to pay for the school supplies out of their own pockets.

[@faithrada]

Dear God... I love this brilliant soul!

[@humanrightsadvocate]

Fuck your god.

[@mark-j-adderley]

If ever there were cause for indignation, the plight of teachers and public-health nurses should merit it.

[@busyteachermom4353]

@René Artois Do they have thousands of dollars of college debt or are told to continue their education in order to keep their teaching certificate?

[@allenatkins2263]

@@busyteachermom4353 Was it kept a secret about how much you were going to make?

[@busyteachermom4353]

@@allenatkins2263 Actually, it kind of was. The problem isn't when I started out. It's the fact that our salaries never kept up with inflation. Many of our salaries were frozen at some point (mine was for 7 years). So yes, the teachers that came before me made more, considering inflation.

[@allenatkins2263]

@@busyteachermom4353 My daughter is a middle school math teacher. When she was discussing her desire to become a teacher, I told her what her starting salary would be and what she could expect in the future. She said that is what she wanted and I told her that I would give her all the help I could. I also told her I never wanted to hear her complain about the hours or the pay, So, now she is a teacher and she kept her part of the bargain.

[@busyteachermom4353]

@@allenatkins2263 Bless her! We need good willing teachers! I've been teaching for 20 years now.

[@thedavecorp]

"Would you teach again?" "Not in the United States, no."

[@rcmrcm3370]

That last line was so astute. Right on.

[@RoyalKingA73]

The Rant is definitely due.

[@aftonhalters]

it's OVER DUE! And people wonder WHY kids get into drugs and crime... shit! Why NOT! They feel hopeless

[@thesoundsmith]

Fuck The Rant. The RECKONING is due. TAKE THE COUNTRY BACK FROM THE CORPORATE KILLING MACHINE.

[@scoop4363]

I remember when I was in school, I had a bad case of THOUGHTS! I was isolated to prevent spreading it to the other children. It turned out to be a lifelong affliction that has cost me dearly. There is no cure. No treatment. No hope. I will die with THOUGHTS! I've come to terms with it. I'm OK knowing that it is rare and apparently, not contagious. I hope someone will be there to take care of the Manx.

[@Christknight1991]

Having a mother who taught special education I know that teachers are way under appreciated, underpaid and totally screwed

[@friorast999]

There are schools here that have oil wells on the grounds, they still don't pay their teachers. Schools here will spend millions, yes MILLIONS on a new football stadium.

[@Blueknight1960]

That's because sports have become more important than an education. The public school system is more interested in teaching how to pass those test so the schools can get more money to build better sports programs. No actual teaching or learning required.

[@jenniemalloy7402]

Years ago I had a sticker up "Dare to Think for Yourself" in my classroom. Ever since, I have been consistently harassed.

[@DarkS1ayer100]

Jennie Malloy That’s not okay. And clearly they don’t understand the message. You have done nothing wrong. Hang in there okay? Live your life. Let no one tell you otherwise.

[@pditties]

Ive loved his rants since back in the day when he was on the Daily Show with John Stewart. I loved the back in Black rants in which he put everyone in his crosshairs if they were messing up. Democrats or Republicans he would let you have it. I havent watched much of Trevor Noah but I did see Lewis on there once. If I were Noah I would bring him back at least once a month to do a rant or two. As for this rant, my mother was in education for a long time and he is spot on about this.

[@bradf1467]

He's been on with Trevor several times already.

[@sharonconway4303]

I've been following him for over 30 years. He is great.

[@pditties]

@@bradf1467 Thats good to know. I'm glad they kept that going,.

[@thedavecorp]

I'd Never teach in THIS country. OTHER countries figured it out.

[@irri3191]

Teacher rock . Support

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

Not only is Lewis funny, but he's also right!

[@donnavictorian579]

I'm a teacher and I can honestly say they pay us just above the poverty line so that we're not eligible for food stamps on Medicare for our kids but we are so heavily taxed that we can barely survive. We are punished for being working class.

[@seanmccarthy8311]

Keep up the good work. We love you, Lewis Black!

[@ThreePalmsII]

Lewis nailed it on the head.

[@jhwygirl]

TU Lewis for streaming these! I'm in bumfuck Wyoming, with no hope of you coming within 300 miles, so these are awesome!

[@robertmantell1700]

Goddamn I love listening to this man.

[@jward891]

The best teacher I ever had was an Iraqi who came to the US for an offer from GreenBay. He turned it down to be a teacher. He was happy, sensitive and let the girls play after-school soccer (70;s) when no one else would. His name is Franz Eftikar. He even came by my parent's gas station to see me years later. Teachers are a vital genuine part of every community and we will do well not to forget it.

[@bethwithnoahherservicedog7826]

Love you Lewis you always make me laugh your videos are great hope you out here to Oregon hugs from Beth

[@stevejarman56]

Thank you Lewis.

[@JaimeWulf]

I love this guy!

[@jenniemalloy7402]

Thanks for shining the light on darkness (Katrina especially).

[@vincecallagher7636]

He’s great!

[@garricksaro1380]

America is currently rated between 19th and 30th as the best country to live. We rank 37th in education . We are not the greatest country in the world. Wake up.

[@peasant_purple]

I agree with most of what he is saying except for homeschool. My brother, sister, and I were homeschooled by my father. He insisted we all go to public school at the high school level. When I arrived at high school there were a distinct lack of thoughts. Kids walked around like zombies from class to class and if someone tried to be interesting and different they were bullied and shunned. I was very lucky because I was different but no one dared bully me because I was 6' 2" as a freshman. I was known throughout my school as a weirdo but I gained a vast group of friends because I was openly different and nobody could change that. I guess my point is that yes, public school does expose you to people and how 'life' will be, but it is also an instotution that punishes diversity and free thought. I am proud to be homeschooled and I thank the stars that I wasn't tossed into a terrible system without a life raft. I am also proud that I graduated high school and am now working on graduating college to become a high school teacher that isn't dead from the heart up.

[@thedavecorp]

I was a teacher in the U.S., South Korea, AND Thailand... it... can suck.

[@chiefjetsonofflare5329]

Wait till 2020 Teachers are seen VERY DIFFERENT 🥰

[@ThatGuyInVegas]

All the teachers who had to put up with my ass should have had their pay doubled.

[@dark_knight109]

If I could magically remove the Free Market and set everyone's salaries according to my own whims, the top three wage earners - in no particular order - would be doctors, engineers, and teachers. Doctors: Pretty self explanatory. Without your health you have nothing, and that is true on both a personal and communal level. A healthy workforce is a productive workforce. Engineers: Again, pretty self explanatory. Engineers design and build stuff, ensuring it is safe and efficient and helping further technological development. Teachers: They're the ones that turn kids into doctors and engineers (and everything else). My favourite analogy when it comes to the education system is pointing out to people "the boys and girls going through the school system now are the same ones who will be tending to you in the nursing home when you are old and grey, so think very carefully about how highly you want them trained."

[@bradf1467]

Also, all first responders.

[@patriciaborron94]

Also nurses, firefighters and police.

[@JohnNNJ]

dk 109, So how does that work, exactly? Since most of those workers cannot even afford to go to a doctor at the current levels. What does a doctor really do? For most situations a person walks into an office, then leaves with a prescription, and the process is something a decent program could probably accomplish. When I was a kid the doctor used to actually take a culture, then incubate and analyze it on-site; but that was the last time I saw, or heard, of someone doing that. Are there some triage doctors that address immediate life threatening injuries or illness? Sure there are some, but that is also usually someone earlier in their career, and who is getting paid at the bottom of the scales. Are there doctors that work with disease like cancer, and do surgeries? Of course, but these make up a fraction of a much larger field, and one in which nurses and other staff usually do most of the actual work. That fact is, most doctors either own the practice, or work for another/other doctors that own it. So, if it is believed they are underpaid, it sounds like an internal industry struggle. The example of engineers shows you know nothing about the field, since most engineers do not "design", and build nothing (that would be other people like technologists and trades people), plus most of what is designed is defined by code, ASTM, and other standards. So again, what do most really do? Well, project management, which means manage a budget, or work for another "engineer" doing the same. There are at least a few more crucial roles involved in the building of infrastructure and technology, and which isn't necessarily the guy flipping through a McMaster-Carr catalog looking for parts that fit. As far as teachers? Well, to this day this is still mostly a patronage job based on who you know, and/or what pieces of paper paid for, and from where; then very little of it has to do with ones ability to convey knowledge (data/information, skills, and experience). Then there is the nine month work year, and a work environment where many are able to easily participate in a second job/career or business, even to the point of double dipping in public sector employment (and not because they need to make ends meet, but purely out of greed). So, this idea so many teachers are over worked and underpaid is just another disinformation campaign from the top, and misinformation movement of the ignorant. I am sure there are a few teachers, in a few places, that make too little for their metro area; but when actually reading the documentation, it certainly is not Oklahoma or Tennessee, the two places that made the news. In reality, who works the hardest and/or longest while assuming the most risk to things like life and limb? Well it is certainly no area you listed, nor is it any of the assumed, which would something like be police or fire; even though those have some risk, the more likely risks are not what people may think, and are more related to the duties of other higher risk occupations, just not performed as frequently. There are dozens of occupation titles (and if you have ever seen the USDOL lists, hundreds) that currently deserve more pay than they receive for the jobs they are doing in our society. The two most common of these would be things like a roofer or truck driver.

[@dark_knight109]

​@@JohnNNJ "The example of engineers shows you know nothing about the field, since most engineers do not "design", and build nothing" That's news to me, an engineer, given that about 90% of my time spent at work is spent on design or reporting of the same. And that level of knowledge is pretty indicative of what the rest of your post is worth.

[@JohnNNJ]

@@dark_knight109 Then you're most likely either lucky to be able and apply your academic pursuits in a fulfilling way, or talking out of your butt. What area do you work in?

[@MrEnglish150]

Thank you, Lewis!

[@marysunshine4730]

A noble profession.

[@ytwhite5930]

How so true...My Mother is a retired teacher and she loved going to work every day...And she has done well in return. Middle class is a thing of the past so teachers now fall into the "have not" catagory...So much is expected of them that this is flat-assed wrong. Stay at home with your brats for a year then think about teachers.

[@pmccachren]

I am a public school teacher. I retired three years ago and went back two years ago. I loved the profession but I am retiring again for several reasons. I never complained about my pay because I knew I was NOT going to become financially wealthy. As with most teachers we are there because we wanted to be a teacher. There was a pride in teaching young children. I am leaving because of the apathy, ignorance, and indifference by some students and some parents. Not all students and not all parents behave this way. There seems to be a culture of entitlement by too many and TOO much is expected of the schools and the teachers. Administration is another problem with very little to no support. I believe that education is and will continue to implement more online classes since teachers are leaving and retiring with very few new teachers entering the profession. I have no regrets for entering the field of education, it was very rewarding. I am done.

[@rodpowell7937]

Yes, yes. And this is why I quit teaching. I taught from 1975 to 2010. We were promised a 1% raise in 1999. When I finally quit in 2010, they still had not implemented that F-ing 1% raise.

[@brianellinger6622]

. . Need more

[@michaelstrunk6058]

Thank you on your thoughts, with our teachers. It is bull that no matter what administration in the Federal or State governments do not recognize one of the hardest jobs in this country or any other country. They have deal with more and more worse generations that cannot cope of how hard it is to work with little pay and little hope of understanding of what they go through every day. Even having their lives threaten.

[@garylee3229]

In Canada teachers are very well paid!!

[@sullyb23511]

I'm immigrating.

[@Ovationhabs]

Depends on the province. Ontario pays its teachers VERY well ("VERY" in relative terms to teaching salaries, of course), while Quebec pays its teachers fairly well (I've worked in both provinces as a teacher, so I've experienced the paycheques in each place). In the aggregate, though, Canadian teachers generally have it better than US teachers (though there are exceptions in high-income US communities).

[@jameshood1928]

Nurses and teachers are taken for granted in this society. Lewis is spot on with this rant. I'll never forget my second grade teacher. She was intelligent, kind, and patient. She made a big impact on my life. I wanted to marry her but, alas, she already had a boyfriend.

[@jenniemalloy7402]

The light shines in darkness and darkness cannot overcome it.

[@billhaynes400]

This rant was important. One thing is missing. The teachers in my home state. The fact that the 55 counties in West Virginia led the way! They were the first ones who said, "Enough!"

[@Rean-the-Bean]

Never about the kids and teachers always about the administration. Teachers are the tools to get more money.

[@MsChris696969]

Unbefuckinglievable. Amen Lewis

[@peachylife8419]

Amen ! 6 kids I lived it.

[@83gemm]

I was talking to someone who didn’t know I worked in education once and heard a variation of the “Well, the love of the students is extra pay,” mindset. This woman said something along the lines of, “I just think a REAL teacher would want to do the job and not care about the money because they love the kids.” Now, my response is not to be seen as a mic drop or ballsy retort. I was obnoxiously drunk, not brave. My reply was, “Well, why don’t you stay home and teach your kids?” She said, without any irony or self awareness, “I can’t afford that.” I am sorry to say I just started cracking up laughing and she wandered off at some point while I belly laughed. I have cared about the well being of all of my students. I am lucky enough to be in contact with several who are now young adults (poor things). My need to pay to live doesn’t negate my affection for my students. EDIT: I need to make it clear that this did not take place at school. I was drunk at a party, not on the job. 😂

[@ronniebaker4549]

I'm 60. And the text books were mostly 5 to 10 years old. We still taught the truth and payed our teachers better in the 60's and early 70's. The dumbing down of America started after and as a result of the hippies standing up to the government in the 70's. The Kent State University shooting was when the establishment lost the war to the hippies. It is going to be most generation Z and millenials that save the United States thus time. The average republican is a 68 year old white man. Generation Z and millenials have been "starring at their phones" and missed the dumbing down of America by the MSM. They have access to information via the Internet so the lack of education is being replaced by kids sharing information worldwide. The inequality in France is a fraction of the 350 to 1 in the United States and the people are rioting for equality. The French Revolution was fought when the difference between the have and have not was 35 to 1. The difference in pay between the have and have not in the United States is the largest pay gap in the history of civilization

[@sharonconway4303]

You can mostly blame the Republicans. They keep taking money away from the Education Dept and the school system.. It is deplorable. I just donated $1,000 to my local school so they could buy books. I shouldn't have to do that. It is our government's job, not mine. I don't even have children.

[@dannysettles5646]

Teachers have a bad job now day god bless them

[@jeanluney1362]

I personally would not be a teacher for $1,000,000 a year. Every day you have to deal with undisciplined children, irresponsible parents, the Principal, the Administration and the School Board ...just to name a few things. If you do not have a “calling” to work with children....DO NOT GO THERE!

[@lanajohnson8424]

I quite literally homeschooled my kids so they could have thoughts and not be stopped by all the boxes in public schools.

[@nonnoinsandiego8303]

Be a teacher, starve with dignity. It's shameful.

[@JemLeavitt]

Yes. 👍

[@kurtschumacher2760]

Pay the teachers

[@taipan8021]

Some parents can't deal with their own Children, Teachers have to deal with a lot a Personalities. Some Stressful shit,Should be Paid for their Patients.. Just Saying..

[@mustardseed308]

Lew!!!!!

[@memralesandrol.7451]

Well put.

[@dennismetzger9287]

As someone who graduated i can't believe I did because fuckin the teachers lol all of them were beyond stressed and some of them when full wackaloon screaming and holding the class hostage. I feel for every teacher.

[@thorpestanford5359]

It's funny but it's true

[@philipberthiaume2314]

Definitely must be an American problem because where I am, teachers are paid very well with benefits.

[@iffracem]

An educated population is the worst enemy of the politician. You think they actually want the voters to question them or to understand what they do? No way. That applies to all political parties, and all religions for that matter.

[@SirGeorge53]

Teachers don't even get the benefits anymore. I remember getting blue cross and blue shield for NOTHING other than doing my job. And that same BC/BS covered EVERYTHING. We use to have a retirement that got a modest price of living upgrade. I haven't had a cost of living upgrade in over 10 years. And that's after paying for 5+ years of education. The hours I spent were often 12 to 16 hours a day at least 6 days a week for 12 months of the year. I was a band director.

[@jamesoneil5529]

Original thought is frowned upon in the public school system. Or more accurately liberal indoctrination centers. Oregon state has the 12th highest paid teachers in the country and the 45th worst schools. So you can't really say that throwing more money at a bad idea is going to make it better.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

Okay, I'm not a parent by conscious choice, but I well remember my mom. She *didn't* help with homework and the grades of my sisters and I suffered for it. Because of the economic conditions [parents working 50+ hours a week each, for example], we don't have a culture of helping your kid learn to study and making education a familial habit. I won't say 'anymore' because I wonder if we ever did have that cultural focus. What I do know is that studies in education bear out my personal observations: parental involvement in a child's education is THE main contributor between a successful and unsuccessful student. As it stands now, our society just drops our children off at pre-school and expects to take delivery of a a well-adjusted, educated young adult citizen that conforms to whatever religious beliefs the parents have after high school graduation.

[@jerryblanton587]

They think of teachers as they should be volunteers and not work for pay

[@madasahatterinwonderland9465]

$70 k a year plus retirement isn't chicken feed ...

[@pierheadjump]

Since that f#&k regan...

[@Christknight1991]

I think teachers do more work then doctors..

[@michaelrief4424]

I believe it’s a combination of Greed & Ignorance and it’s spiraling downward in this country. I give as an example one of my siblings who had FIVE children in school. While there were going to school they were all in on voting for schools and in on providing a better education for Their kids. Once the children were out of school they completely flipped and they wouldn’t vote for anything concerning education. That’s not going to work out well since we are competing in a Global market where skills make the difference between a good job and a good lifestyle.

[@garylee3229]

Move to Ontario, Canada. Highest paid teachers in North America and the worlds richest pension fund!

[@brianellinger6622]

Are you saying the Jeremy pretended to be me to steal money

[@allenatkins2263]

There are shitty teachers just like every other profession. I had a teacher that would ask us to read quietly and then would lay his head down on the desk and sleep for 45 minutes. As far as I know, he is still a "teacher".

[@3daypriest]

People clap when it is said people don’t understand, appreciate what teachers do. But people aren’t willing to PAY for quality teachers. Chicken/egg. Don’t want to raise salaries and pay bad teachers more. Sure, there are bad teachers. So what you are saying is that rather than get administrators to do their jobs, don’t pay the good teachers. AND THEY WILL LEAVE THE FUCKING PROFESSION AND MAKE THINGS WORSE. Not to mention not attract TRULY qualified individuals. I taught chemistry, with a DEGREE in chemistry, and got paid shit. I saw a drivers ed teacher making the same pay as me and the asshole couldn’t answer a question on the State Competency test, a multiple choice test that wanted to know what 25% of 80 was. I fucking QUIT and went to the private sector. My GROSS BONUS for the first year was almost as my as my net YEARLY salary as a teacher. I don’t know the full answer but I have lived with the fucking problem.

[@pepper13111]

Lewis do you do free shows? Why not, it abusive that you don’t.

[@ktpinnacle]

He does. For our troops.

[@CARRJ142]

[@williamridge7856]

And the teachers get no respect from the kids or the parents!

[@bikebudha01]

I had an algebra teacher that had been using the same program for 20+ years. Thing is, he was a brilliant teacher, and many students really felt they learned from him. The OTHER THING is, he had been using the same program for 20+ years so why should he make shitloads of money for doing the same job for 20+ years? All early education works this way. Algebra doesn't change. History doesn't (or shouldn't) change. Once teachers have a handle on their subject, they really don't (or shouldn't have to) really learn new materials or new teaching methods. So like someone who works flipping burgers, you know the same job year 1 as year 20, they shouldn't expect to make tons of money. And they get summers off... That said, they should make a decent living, be able to afford a modest home, modest car, maybe a small family. But like all public servants, high pay shouldn't be on the table. You must remember, public servants have built in job security. There will always be teachers, cops, traffic engineers, etc. As long as they show up, do decent work, etc, they will always have a job. Which is much different than private employees. Look at private security. There is no guarantee you'll have a job from year to year. There's always another private security company trying to take the account you work on. The 'competition' factor makes all the difference. So much more risk in the private sector, the private sector not only should make more money - they have to. If they don't, they won't be able to pay taxes and pay the salaries of the public sector....

[@kendallsmith1458]

NO bubba, a MALL COP should live modestly.A teacher should be respected!

[@tinamclaughlin1991]

Frigging fracking is such a dumb thing to do. Oil is a dumb thing to use. Teachers, who love students, and go broke helping them to learn, should earn more than the persident, so the children get knowledge with a satisfaction from a teacher, as the president gets money to look as stupid as a balding cheese puff!

[@SloppyballsMcGuillicutty]

Teechers our overaided.

[@monalisasmoustache]

Trump wants to give teachers guns when they don't have enough funding for pencils and paper.

[@austin1839]

You know it's bad when teachers have to learn firearms safety and carry on the job.

[@Smeginator]

I agree with most of what he said, but it’s disappointing that he’s still shitting on people with ADHD as if it’s not a real condition.

[@LordOfNothingham]

Summer off, weekends off, holidays off. It snows too much, off. I know you’re all getting a livable income because you go on strike every five years. So forgive me for not giving a shit.

[@Ovationhabs]

We work the same number of hours annually as anyone else with a full-time job--we just do it in about 9.5 months instead of 12. But hey, you do you.

[@dc76384]

Make public education like College. Pay these teachers an unbelievable salary, and pass the cost of these great salaries and benefits off to the parents...who can then take out student loans to fund middle school.

[@lauriejanes6511]

Some people home school because public schools don’t teach anything except conformity.

[@dianahulstine8522]

Some people home school so no one knows what goes on in the home as well .! Abuse on many levels

[@GOLDTRADERRR]

Lewis can barely form sentences anymore. The only word he can get out successfully is FUCK. Sad that so many comedians also say 'fuck' constantly. Like Bill Burr. I'm guilty of using the word too frequently myself. But it's so satisfying personally while creating a very poor public image which people can't help but judge negatively. The people I admire the most are those that can convey the same message but with a more eloquent use of words.

[@adamplentl5588]

Nobody fucking asked you Cedric, and you don't get to decide how anyone but you feels about anything. Shove your puritanical prudish bullshit.

[@adamplentl5588]

And take a fuckin shower I can literally smell you through your picture.

[@jb6167]

According to salary.com the average teacher pay is $50,000+ a year. So if those numbers are true, I say cut the shit, your pay is very good compared to the average worker.

[@jamesm.3967]

I don’t want very average workers being teachers they can work at Walmart or do my drywall.

[@jeffjones8368]

For a different view, see John Stossel: MYTH - Teachers are underpaid. This 3-minute KZbin video ridicules Lewis Black

[@hllndsn1]

Is your humor pandering or dillisional? Virtually every adult in America knows what teachers do (and fail miserably at). Bah. Humbug.

[@askthepizzaguy]

If you went to a proper school, maybe you'd be able to spell what you're trying to say.

[@Grit489]

Babbling fool