This entry continues the series exploring solutions to the education crisis.
We know that the federal government is wasting education funding (see previous entry). So how should the money be spent? What can we do to improve the quality of education in America?
To be honest, I am not completely sure. I am not an education expert. I have spent many years in outdoor education and several years as a coach--so I am an educator--but I do not work within the public school system.
But I am sure about a few changes that need to be made.
Every election cycle voters put education at or near the top of their priority list in the polls. We know, as a nation, that this is a critical issue. And when we hear politicians telling us how much they are spending on education, we assume that this money is helping the situation. In the last entry, this myth was debunked. Spending for the sake of spending does nothing but waste valuable taxpayer resources.
Teachers are the key to education. Sounds simple, right? But with all of the money we spend on education, teacher salaries are in comparative decline. In 1940, teacher pay was comparable to that of other professional careers. From 1996-2003, inflation-adjusted teacher pay rose 0.8%, while other college-educated professionals saw an inflation-adjusted 12% increase.
The average starting pay for a teacher is about $30,000. Computer programmers, accountants, and registered nurses start off at about $45,000. As bad as this statistic is, overall average pay is even worse. Teachers earn more than 50% less than their bachelor-degree holding counterparts in other professions.
Obviously, teaching is about more than money. But salaries are not just dollars, they are a measure of gratitude and achievement. Ask just about any employee, a raise is the best way to communicate appreciation. By paying them so little, we are telling teachers we are ungrateful for them. Not only this, but laws have stripped them of their ability to choose a curriculum, control their classrooms, and discipline their students.
We are failing this test. As a nation, we have sent a clear message that we do not value our teaching professionals. What incentive do they have to perform well, other than the kindness of their hearts?
A dramatic increase in teacher pay is one of the first steps to improving the education system. Let's stop wasting money on failing programs and start investing on our most important education resource--our teachers.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You said parents were the most important thing in the education process. Now you are saying it is teachers. Please clarify what you mean and where our dollars should go.
They are equally important, but the dollars must go to the teachers. Parents should not be given incentive for children who do well in school--this is the expectation. Parents whose children fail to meet the most minimum standards should be asked to compensate the education system for the resources they are sapping. Parents are like the gas you put in the car--bad gas breaks down the car, causing traffic back-ups and accidents, thereby interfering with others.
Teachers are vital to the education system. They are the driver. Without gas, the driver can't the car (the child) anywhere. But with a little fuel, the desired destination can be reached.
Teachers and parents are mutually dependent, but the money must go to the teachers, while parents should pay for the mistakes they make that cost the system EXTRA resources.
Post a Comment