Why is education the only profession that I know of that "traps" its employees into the "company" or district, that doesn't reward experience and expertise when shifting from one "company" to another, that doesn't "compete" for the best of the best???!!!

Do you hear what I'm saying fellow educators?? 

When I left teaching after my first 9.5 years and entered the business world, I jumped up approximately $5,000 in salary, AND I HAD NEVER WORKED IN SUCH A BUSINESS PROFESSION BEFORE!! Then, within less than 4 years, I was making approximately $10,000 more than I had been when I left teaching (and I made three lateral moves to different companies).  Furthermore, when I returned to teaching...(I bet you can guess where I'm going here)...I took a $13,000 pay cut!!!! WHY?? because upon returning to my true calling, the district would take only 5 years experience on their pay scale.

Now, 9.5 years later, after returning to teaching, I'm trapped again.  I desperately want to leave my school and district (for a myriad of reasons), but know that if I did "jump companies", I would, once again, take at least a $10,000 pay cut, and be making the same salary as a five year "rookie", even though I'm an acclaimed and proven successful 20+ veteran in the field. And that's just me. I have a friend who has been teaching kindergarten for 17 years, a top notch teacher leader in her district, but recent events at her school and district have led to a drastic demise in the school culture--which she cannot live with any more. So she will be "jumping ship."  At what cost?? Approximately $17,000 plus insurance.  THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS!!!

 Why aren't other districts "competing" for us, like they would be in a business organization???  Why aren't they saying, "I see what that company is offering you, what you've accomplished and the heights to which you've brought them, so I'm willing to offer you more to seduce you to my team"? like what happens in the business world for positions that really do..., um..., WHAT, for society??!!

Don't get me wrong...I'm not necessarily complaining that my pay is too limited. I'm quite comfortable with what I'm making--in my current position. And I fully understand that in today's economy, many people have been undercut in salary.  HOWEVER, that doesn't change the fact...and the fact is: the teaching profession has ALWAYS trapped teachers and undercut their pay by simply sticking to that strict salary schedule and not recognizing experience and expertise.

Again, I'm not asking for the BIG BUCKS or for the educational pay scale to be matched entirely to the business world, but don't you think it would be nice if teachers could at least have lateral moves from one district/company to another without losing so much??

Your thoughts.