Ericband

I read that article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203687504576655352353046120.html?KEYWORDS=teachers ) and its so full of holes and ignorant premises it looks like someone used it for target practice. To wit, here are quotes taken form the article:

1) "But the evidence shows that public school teachers' total compensation amounts to roughly $1.50 for every $1 that their skills could garner in a private sector job. " And what skills would those be? Giving their students important knowledge and skills to be successful in the world, often in very specfic subject matter? Teaching to students who have widely varied socio-economic backgrounds, family situations, and learning capabilities? Spending time and money at home and off the clock to do their jobs better? Who decides what those skills are worth? The esteemed educators Messrs Biggs and Richwine? Oh, that's right, they're NOT educators. They're "policy analysts". Great. Set foot in a public school classroom, gentlemen; *then* tell me what those skills are worth.

2) "Education is widely regarded by researchers and college students alike as one of the easiest fields of study, and one that features substantially higher average grades than most other college majors. On objective tests of cognitive ability such as the SAT, ACT, GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and Armed Forces Qualification Test, teachers score only around the 40th percentile of college graduates ." So we're going to say that their field of study is easy because their standardized test scores are lower than some other majors? And people in other majors don't produce poorly testing, performing or overpaid professionals? I seem to remember an old joke: What do you call the person who graduates last in their medical school class? Doctor. This argument also falls down.

3. "BLS data on paid leave for teachers count vacation days only during the school year, omitting summer and long holiday breaks. A valid pay comparison should include this extra time off, in which teachers can enjoy longer vacations or earn additional income." One of the reasons teachers get longer time off is because they NEED it. As a former teacher (one who did move from teaching into the private sector), I can tell you first hand that the stress and pressure involved in being a public school teacher leaves the pressure of many private sector fields in the dust. By the end of a typical school year, teachers are stressed, anxious, and absolutely in need of time off to decompress and recharge for another year. I dare anyone who has been in a classroom to suggest otherwise. To suggest that teachers' time off is somehow not worthy of consideration when figuring what their pay is worth is insulting and ignorant.

So excuse me if I have some problems with the arguments of the article's authors. I think that, contary to their premise, the vast majority of teachers are indeed underpaid when one considers everything they do and everything they go through. With all due respect to the authors, I would love to see their resumes. My initial bet is I wouldn't find any public school teaching there. If there were, they wouldn't even dare to write an article like this.