Better Pay If You Want Good Teachers To Stay

It seems that education has been attacked for years in this country. Every ill of society has been blamed on our education system in some way. Politicians love to pontificate the importance of improving our schools, especially around election time. Public schools receive the harshest criticism from those who lead us in Washington. Teachers lack of training or motivation is often cited as a root cause of the demise of American education. Colleges are being asked to strengthen their training programs and make admittance into the teaching field more selective. I would agree that compared to when I attained my degree in education in 1973 standards are much higher and it is much more difficult to be admitted to the education program. Pay for Public School Teachers is still not equal to other professions with similar requirements. Why would an individual enter a program with such stringent guidelines when they are guaranteed relative low pay upon entering the Public Education sector? For years we were told that teaching was an avocation not a job and that teachers taught to inspire young minds. That the self satisfaction of enlightening children would make up for the long hours and low pay. Teachers were held to a high moral standard concerning their social activities, especially in small communities. They were expected to be examples of proper behavior to young people, not only while at school but in all aspects of life outside the classroom. I came to the conclusion after 31 years as a teacher, coach and administrator that much of this was Bullshit. Education is important. It lays a sound foundation. Teachers are the ones who make a difference, good or bad. They should be paid accordingly for the worth a society sees in an educated populace. Get rid of the bad and pay the good a fair salary. A lawyer can charge $250.00 an hour for counsel . What is an hour worth to educate ones child? Politicians talk the talk until it's time to pay. Then it's the same old tried and true excuse about a shortage in the States Budget. The first programs usually cut deal with education programs and teachers pay. Citizens complain about the need for better schools but as taxpayers bitch about any local tax increases that fund education. "Teachers get 3 months off" or I don't have any kids in school any more"; heard those retorts before? Want good teachers to stay? Pay them what you think they are worth. Or maybe that is what we have been doing for the past 100 years.