Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Good to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

American Teachers Do More Work for Less Pay Than Their International Peers

Want to work short hours for comparatively good pay? Become a teacher in pretty much any other industrialized nation.

Liz Dwyer
By Liz DwyerApr 27, 2011
Liz Dwyer
Liz Dwyer is the education editor at GOOD. She was previously the education editor at TakePart and has written about education, parenting, and social justice for several national websites and print publications.
See Full Bio

Ever wonder how the hours American teachers work and the salary they earn compares to teachers in other industrialized nations? Well, the picture's not pretty. In this infographic courtesy of the Future Journalism Project, American educators work the most hours of all industrialized nations, but are the fifth lowest paid after 15 years on the job. Only Luxembourg, Hungary, Iceland, and Norway pay their teachers less.

And how do we compare to the country that's number one in the world in education according to international tests, Finland? Teachers there work the fifth fewest hours and are the ninth lowest paid. Sure, no one goes into education for the money, but at a certain point doesn't it seem wrong that teachers pretty much everywhere else on this chart work less but get paid more?

hat tip Alexander Russo

educationicelandnorwayfinlandhungaryteacher payindustrialized nationsinternational testshours teachers workluxembourg

The Latest

rideshare, uber, pay, fares, fair wages
Money

Man breaks down how much he makes from Uber, enraging both drivers and passengers

Ben Stiller, Severance, Emily Powell-Heaton, Stage 4 cancer, bucket list, viral story, metastatic breast cancer, Apple TV+, heartwarming, X
Past Events

A 'Severance' fan with Stage 4 cancer made a 'bucket list' request. Ben Stiller's reply is perfect.

aging, seniors, life advice, getting older, wisdom, mental health, happiness, letting go, stress relief, growing up
Past Events

27 honest things older people say they care less about as they age

old people, happiness, unexpected things, good, joy, mental health, experience, wisdom

20 unexpected and simple things older people say bring them happiness

More For You

Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, WOMAD, 1982 reunion, Six of the Best, progressive rock, Steve Hackett, music history, Tony Banks

Genesis performs on stage; (Inset) Phil Collins singing on stage

Genesis photo by Steve Knight via Wikimedia Commons; Phil Collins by Philippe Roos via Wikimedia Commons

The unbelievable 1982 Genesis reunion with Peter Gabriel was to save him from crushing debt

When the final curtain fell on Genesis’ farewell tour at London’s O2 Arena in March 2022, it marked the end of an era for the legendary prog-pop band. The core trio of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks had reunited for one last run, but there was a notable figure watching from the audience: original frontman Peter Gabriel.

Gabriel, who co-founded the band in 1967 before leaving in 1975, chose not to perform, viewing his attendance simply as a "rite of passage."

Keep ReadingShow less
psychological tricks, social hacks, Reddit, communication, social anxiety, persuasion, de-escalation, body language, conversation tips, bystander effect

A group of people socializing

Canva

15 'psychological tricks' that can help you 'win' in almost every social situation

Let's face it: humans are social creatures, but that doesn't mean we are all naturally good at it. For many, navigating office politics, first dates, or heated arguments feels like walking through a minefield without a map.

But according to a fascinating and perpetually useful thread on Reddit, there are shortcuts. The thread, which asked users to share the "psychological tricks" they use to navigate life, became a goldmine of behavioral hacks.

Keep ReadingShow less
animal welfare, dog reunion, animal shelter, dog parents, fundraisers

After a woman lost her job and home, she surrendered her dog to a shelter. Then the community rallied to help.

Photo credit: courtesy of Kaitlyn Ross

She surrendered her dog but wrote the shelter every day. Community rallied to help them reunite.

Tiffani McCloud had already experienced massive strife in recent months: losing her job, losing her home, and living on the streets with her beloved dog. Her situation grew even more dire when, feeling out of options, she made the difficult decision to surrender her pup, Lola, to the Atlanta shelter, DeKalb County Animal Services. But thanks to her own tearful, poignant outreach—and the noble efforts of her local community—this devastating story had a sweeter-than-expected outcome.

The saga, at least in the public sense, begins in Lifeline’s "Adoptable Pets" Facebook group. Volunteer Jennifer Galloway, who co-runs the nonprofit RescueMeATL with Erica Perets, detailed the basic story of McCloud—including the spirit of her daily Instagram messages checking in on Lola. She ended every note with the same crushing line: "Please tell her I love her." By the time Galloway posted on Facebook, it had been over a month with Lola yet to hit the adoption floor due to space issues. But the animal community quickly sprang to action, helping raise awareness. (As of this writing, the post has over 4,500 reactions, 2,200 shares, and 995 comments.)

Keep ReadingShow less
music, brain, opioids, music therapy, scientific discovery

Scientists have found the physical reason why music feels good.

Photo credit: Canva

Neuroscientists find that those who think music is 'like a drug' are actually right

They say music soothes the soul, but many people feel music in their bodies. Not just through dancing, but by people literally feeling good and getting chills listening to their favorite songs. Your heart beats differently, the skin on your arm bubbles with goosebumps, and whatever is troubling you seems to melt away. Listening to some songs can feel like a drug going through your system. Well, it turns out a recent Finnish university study shows that comparing music to a drug isn’t too far off.

A long-held scientific mystery is that music doesn’t appear to offer any true survival benefit, such as physical protection from predators or storing of calories, yet it is a part of every studied culture. Findings from research on music’s connection to the brain from Turku PET Centre and the University of Turku in Finland show through brain imaging that music activates the same natural opioid system that gives pleasurable feelings when eating delicious food or bonding with someone. For centuries, people reported feeling euphoric and pleasurable chills when listening to their favorite music, but now this study is zeroing in on the physical reasons why such feelings occur.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robin Williams, quotes, depression, mental health, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, loneliness, suicide prevention, World's Greatest Dad, inspiration

Robin Williams performs at the 2008 USO World Gala in Washington, D.C.

Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons

7 beautiful quotes about depression from the great Robin Williams

It has been over a decade since the world lost Robin Williams, a comedic force of nature whose energy seemed inexhaustible. When he took his own life in 2014 after battles with depression and Lewy body dementia, the silence that followed was deafening. How could the man who brought us the Genie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Mork be in such pain?

But looking back at his vast body of work—from his frantic stand-up sets to his tender dramatic roles—it is clear that Williams possessed a profound understanding of the human condition. He didn't just make us laugh; he made us feel seen, especially those of us who have struggled with our own darkness.

Keep ReadingShow less
skydiving, volunteer, time, money, happiness, purpose, Reddit, Redditors

Sky diving and volunteering at a food bank.

Photo credit Canva

People share the 5 things they say are actually more valuable than time or money

Many people consider money to be the most important ingredient for finding happiness. As we age, the power of time is discussed as possibly being even more important. However, what happens when people are asked to uncover the things that matter most if you take money and time off the table?

In a recent r/AskReddit thread, a valuable question was offered, "Except for time and money, what is the #1 thing you wish you had more?" The responses were rather insightful and reveal a great deal about what brings people happiness—and what they feel is lacking in their lives.

Keep ReadingShow less
social norms, conversation, social skills, meeting people, awkward encounters

People say these small social rules are "impossible" to follow.

Photo credit: Canva, Africa images (main image) / anlomaja (black box)

The super small social rules that people say are 'absolutely impossible' to follow

I suffer from situational awkwardness—a self-diagnosis, mind you, but one I feel pretty confident about, given the evidence. My ability to follow social norms fluctuates depending on the setting: the ages of the people I’m around, the general vibe of the people I’m around, how well we know each other, even the physical environment. (Is this a home game or an away game?) Basically, if I’m visiting a stranger’s house and meeting their rowdy kids for the first time, I will probably be a different person than if I’m hanging around my parents at a restaurant. I envy people who always seem comfortable in their own skin.

It’s probably no shock, then, that I find it difficult to follow certain social rules. (This also extends to the concept of unwritten rules—let’s all get on the same page so I can know exactly whom and how much I should be tipping, okay?) At least I’m not the only one who gets tripped up every once in a while. In a recent thread, strangers shared the seemingly minor situations that they find challenging.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kola Superdeep Borehole, deepest hole on Earth, Russia, geology, drilling, Mariana Trench, sounds of hell, Earth's crust, science mystery, China drilling

A large hole in the ground

Canva

Terrifying sounds captured from below the Earth as scientists were digging the deepest hole ever

It remains one of the most ambitious—and eerie—scientific projects in human history. While space agencies were racing to the moon, Soviet scientists were racing in the opposite direction: straight down.

The project, known as the Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3, began in 1970 in the Pechengsky District of Russia, near the Norwegian border. The goal was simple yet massive: drill as deep into the Earth’s crust as technology would allow. By 1989, they had reached a staggering depth of 12,262 meters (40,230 feet).

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2025