1) Not every educator is a teacher. Teachers are paid the most and have the best organized labor representation, while substitute teachers and T-A's are lucky if they get enough hours to qualify for benefits.

2) Not everyone lives in a rich area of a big city. Smaller communities typically don't have the tax base to pay livable wages. Cost of living maybe less, but the absolute buying power of educators in rural area is next to nil.

Also, here's some anecdotal personal data-points:

- My half sister and her husband are special ed. T-A's. They're on food stamps.

- Talk to elderly homeless, saner people. You'd be surprised how many were teachers or in the education.