Ted,
This teacher conversation reminds of an elementary teacher I knew in Chicago many years ago. She taught in a really, really dangerous school on the south side. She had to be escorted to and from her car, kids in class with knives, didn't get paid squat, all the stories you hear. But she loved it, she couldn't imagine doing anything else. I was amazed that ANYONE would do that.
I think there are a group of folks that just want to teach kids, regardless of the compensation. And then there are probably a bunch of people that would like to teach, but won't because of the compensation. If we paid teachers what their qualifications are worth in the private sector, we would probably get more competition by including that second group; and subsequently a more quality end product.
But what do I know, I don't have kids. I just pay for other people's kids with my property taxes. If anybody is unhappy with their kids public school education, and want's to send me a refund, send me a PM.
<Also, for those that rail against school cost, isn't it primarily a local issue wrt property taxes? You can fight that on a local level, and make your local schools inferior, right? I admit I don't know a lot about the issue>.
John |
