Two weeks ago Nicholas Kristof wrote a NEW York Times article about teacher salaries. Kristof argues that teachers do not get paid enough. The article followed public criticism of teachers by several governors. Kristof stated that instead of mocking and demeaning teachers they should pay us more. Good teachers are the most important asset in the classroom and raising student achievement. Kristof sites a study in Los Angeles that found that having a teacher from the top 25 percent for four consecutive years would be enough to close the black-white achievement gap. The effect a teacher has on their students is tremendous and if we want that effect to be positive we need to have the best possible people in the classroom. Kristof argues that in order to have the best people in the classroom salaries for teachers need to be more competitive to other professions, and therefore the need to be higher.
If teachers’ salaries were increased the profession would attract the top college graduates and compete with other professions. In other successful countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Finland, teachers are well respected and compensated. If we want the best teachers to prepare our students to be the best citizens possible we must increase teacher salaries to attract the best possible people to the profession.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/opinion/13kristof.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Pay%20Teachers%20More&st=cse
1 comment:
I think the discussion about teacher pay is so interesting. The fact of the matter is that no one goes into teaching for the money, but a lot of people leave because of the money. I live comfortably on my salary now, but I'm a single 24 year old. Could I support a family, or even one child on my current salary? Not comfortably. I really believe this is one of the main reasons that teaching is dominated by females - most couples consider the job as a 2nd or "supplementary" income because there is little room for advancement in most districts. I think the new model for increasing teacher salaries based on performance will help men and women come to view teaching as a profession that they can pursue and still support a family.
In NYC, there is a school called The Education Project where teachers make $125,000 and get a hiatus year every 5-6 years to decrease burn-out. I am really interested to see if this model not increases student achievement by drawing top notch teachers, but also if it decreases turnaround rates for the teachers.
Post a Comment