DISVALUING HIGHER VALUE
America’s teachers are feeling disvalued. This feeling stems from a concrete statement made by the public as expressed by the teachers’ low level of financial remuneration. According to current rankings among economically advanced countries, American teachers are paid less than 60% of the salaries of other professionals.
It is instructive to look at the salaries paid to professional athletes per annum. Some of the top players make enormous amounts more than the average player. However, according to a Forbes Magazine article, here are current averages in the millions:
National Basketball Association: 5.15
Major League Baseball: 3.2
National Hockey Association: 2.4
National Football League: 1.9
Of course movie stars and other celebrities make multiple millions as well. Entertainment in America is big business and quite lucrative. So is the selling of artificial images and fake health in the advertising industry. Some of these businesses could be used as contrasts as well as sports. I am not opposed to entrepreneurs and sports professionals being paid decent salaries. However, I use sports because the contrast I wish to make is so apparent.
Here is the issue placed in bold contrast: Nothing of America’s future depends on who wins or loses a basketball, baseball, hockey, or football game. But the destiny of the nation depends on the quality of leadership our schools are able to produce. In essence, it is our teachers who may well determine the nation’s future. Yet, they are some of our lowest paid professionals. The statement being made by the citizenry is that they disvalue one of those things of highest value in national life. The money not being invested in education is this declaration.
Equally important to the low level of teacher’s salaries in this disvaluation is the lack of resources to teach their subjects. Lack of text books is one example. So, even if salary levels were to rise the inability to access resources still blocks the capacity for quality education.
Thus, this disvaluation is holistic of education per se – whatever is necessary to have quality schooling for our youth. Most states spend less on education today than before the Great Depression. The nation’s value scale is turned upside down. And only citizenry demand can change it because we are responsible. This means America’s future is in our hands.
Robert
What a sad contrast between what teachers and sports stars make. I am glad you are writing about this and that the teachers are rallying.
Teachers in this country are underpaid and education is underfunded. Public schools are marked by lack of discipline and poor academic performance, and, to make matters worse, administrators uphold the premise that “The customer is always right!,” absolving parents and students of any responsibility. Sad, Tragic, depressing! My spouse cannot wait to retire, just to regain health and sanity…and she works with kindergarteners!