Posted by Bonnie_CA on June 21, 2006, at 16:36:48
In reply to A Modest Proposal to fix public education, posted by Racer on June 21, 2006, at 1:51:27
I agree. There's another part I think needs to be added.
They're always ranting and raving about "we need more highly qualified teachers". The "highly qualified teachers" would come in droves if they just paid teachers a fraction of what they're worth! I'm a teacher, so I know what I'm talking about! LOL No one goes into teaching thinking they're gonna get rich, and I'm not even suggesting that we pay teachers extravagantly (I could use 100K/year, couldn't you?), but it is ridiculous and disgusting that, in most areas of the country, a teacher can't buy a house on their salary. I am bothered that in California, one of the most expensive states to live in, the starting salary around my area is about $35K a year. Pathetic! While the low salary might be good for attacting only those that really want to do it, we are losing many great teachers each year because they simply can't justify the stress versus the take home pay. Those that can deal with doing something else that makes more money, go ahead and do that. Then there's people like me, who aren't happy unless we're teachers. We're stuck bringing in dismal salaries, and helping to produce our future doctors and lawyers. The people in charge spend a lot of time and money advertising for teaching, but balk at the idea of raising teacher salaries to a decent amount that would allow a teacher to live a decent life.
This country is reeling from the idea that if you want a better education, you can pay for it. I think the longer we allow that philosophy, the worse the public education is going to get. So perhaps, putting the government workers' children in public schools would be the first step? :D
-Bonnie
poster:Bonnie_CA
thread:659585
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060610/msgs/659804.html