I must be ignorant then. So then please tell me what IS the job of a teacher? According to your logic, they add no value to society (since, it is everyone ELSE'S responsibility to teach the kids) so it seems to me the low pay fits quite well.
I do agree with you that the family and home situation can staggeringly increase the chances for a kid to succeed. I also agree that everyone should take personal responsibility for their own education and not blame someone else (even if it is the other party's fault). Following this same logic, every individual is responsible for how much money they make. If they don't feel they are making enough money, it is their fault for not getting a higher paying job.
So once we artificially increase the salaries to the jobs we "like" and artificially decrease the salaries of jobs we don't "like" can we also make the people we don't "like" sit at the back of the bus and drink out of different water fountains than the people we do "like"?
You post something like this (especially the last paragraph) and then try to talk about logic?
OK, lets say teachers set their own prices, just like any capitalist venture should. Let everyone keep the money that currently goes to taxes for schools. How long do you think it would be before half of the nation's kids are out in the streets instead of in school because parents don't want to pay teachers for the time they actually spend working?
What do you think those kids will be doing since they now have all this free time on their hands?
Better throw those taxes from schools into jails, then.
Or, we could just change the child labor laws and put them to work like in some other countries. That would solve two problems at once!
If people are responsible for their own education, as you say, they don't get to blame their teachers. Just like if they are a fat lazy bastard, they don't get to blame their doctor.
In case you missed it, the discussion I posted was defending teachers from blame, not discussing their value -- those are two different things. (yeah, they are if you think about it - I'm telling you your blame is misplaced, not trying to show you how great teachers are) And if you don't see their value then it is not worth my time to try and convince you.
BTW, it was you that said they had no value to society and that it was everyone else's job, then tried to attribute it to me. I said neither of those things. Nice try, but only ignorant people would fall for that.
"I'm fed up with teachers and their hefty salaries for only 9 months work" said the man. "What we need here is a little perspective. If I had my way, I would pay teachers baby-sitting wages! That's right...instead of paying these outrageous taxes! I'd give them $3 an hour. And I'm only paying for five hours; NOT for those planning times, after hours meetings, or duty times either! That's $15 a day!"
"Fine," said the teacher. "I'll take it"
The man looked surprised!
"Each parent will pay $15 a day for me to babysit their children. Even if they have more than one child it will be cheaper than private daycare. And as a bonus, I will continue to TEACH these children. Lets see, I teach on average 25 children per hour - that's $15 x 25 = $375 a day. But remember, we work - as you said , 180 days, so that's $375 x 180 = $67,500 a year."
"Now wait a minute." said the man.
The teacher added, "What about those teachers who have ten years or more of experience, a master's degree, or teach special education? They should at least get minimum wage don't you think? Let's round it off to say...$6 per hour. That's $6 x 5 hours x 25 children = $750 per day. Now multiply that times 180 days. That's $135,000 per 180 days."
"Hey wait a minute...", said the man. "Something is wrong here!"
"That's what I think too." said the teacher.
So, you say a person is responsible for how much money they make, above.
Really?
Explain nepotism and inheritance. Then explain how a person's motivation can obtain or change those two sources of money. And yes, they are very, very prevalent in the top tiers of corporations and the richest families in the world. I think you should describe how Joe the hot dog vendor has a chance at that level of income without winning the lottery.
"Go out and get a better job" only works if the access is there. It seems to me that what you're saying is "I've got mine, sucks to be you."
