Definitely a hodgpodge of stuff. The point of the article was to demonstrate that k-12 teachers are not underpaid and the data are gathered to demonstrate. No data that contradicts the argument is examined. Etc.
A few points.
It is the archaic pay schedules, however, that lead to inequities in teaching. With teacher pay correlated to seniority rather than ability, older teachers and those who are simply ineffective are overpaid at the expense of young teachers and those in hard-to-fill subjects.
An ideological point. So we at least know whereform the author comes.
These factors are not gained at the expense of monetary compensation. Teachers are given better pensions than most professionals, allowing them to retire earlier, according to Podgursky. Public-school teachers leave their full-time positions at an average age of 59, as versus over 63 for those in the private sector. At that age, finding a job to add to their retirement income is easy and common. In addition, teachers' pensions are often adjusted for inflation, which is unusual in the private sector.
Whoops, no data here.
In light of these perks, we need to rethink the question of teacher pay. Each year, the American Federation of Teachers compares teachers' salaries to those of other professions. Teachers only earned $43,250 in the 2000-01 school year; mid-level accountants earned $52,664, computer systems analysts $71,155, engineers $74,920, and attorneys $82,712.
Podgursky correctly points out that these numbers constitute the best argument for pay raises, but also fail to account for education. "One could make a case that the salaries of high-school physics or calculus teachers should bear some resemblance to those of computer systems analysts, but does the AFT believe that the appropriate compensation benchmarks for third-grade teachers are the salaries of engineers or attorneys?"
Well, why not given the centrality of teachers in the socialization of the young. But the most interesting part of these two paragraphs is that it winds up with a cheap shot comparison--third grade teachers with engineers and attorneys. The category "engineers" and the category "attorneys" both cover a multitude of sins; just as the category "teachers" does. Perhaps the categories should be broken down to more levels to get better comparisons.
Many teachers work beyond their mandated hours, but are free to do so at home, an added flexibility that many would relish, and one that makes it easier to raise a family. That is an important factor, since teaching remains a female-dominated occupation. In "Fringe Benefits," Podgursky notes that teachers under 40 average 2.1 children, compared with 1.7 for other professionals.http://www.educationnext.org/20033/71.html
A bit of a cheap shot which says because it's a female dominated occupation it should receive less.
While specific groups of teachers may be underpaid, those in fields that experience shortages and those who are highly effective, public-school teachers nationwide are not being shortchanged. The real tragedy is not low salaries, but salary schedules that reward mediocrity.
nationalreview.com
And we end with an ideological note. |
