How to Fix the Education Divide

Teachers should be praised, not vilified

(NEWSER) - Right-wing propaganda aside, America's teachers are underpaid and need to make more if the United States is to compete internationally, writes Nicholas Kristof at the New York Times . "We should be elevating teachers, not throwing darts at them," he says. In 1970, a starting public school teacher earned just $2,000 less than a starting lawyer at a good law firm—today, that gap is more like $115,000, according to a study by McKinsey (notably, a firm comprised of highly paid people who are not teachers). Citing another study, Kristof says that good teachers make a real economic impact on society—kindergarten teachers in the top 15% of their profession can add $400,000 to the lifetime earnings of a class of 20, while teachers in the top 7% add $640,000. More»

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich and Al Sharpton ran into each other today at the White House, on purpose, to discuss education reform with President Obama, USA Today reports. Sharpton noted that they were “two who have not agreed on anything politically,” but joined in an effort to remedy a “crisis.” The two met with President Obama, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. More»

Prez to push teacher merit pay, lower dropout rates

(NEWSER) - In a speech today before the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, President Obama will lay out his plan for American schools, reports the Wall Street Journal. Most controversially, the president aims to expand merit pay for teachers, a measure that Democratic teacher unions are traditionally leery of. If teachers develop new skills, he said last summer, “that work can be valued and rewarded.” More»

Alabama's Shadrack McGill: But lawmakers should definitely get raises

(NEWSER) - Teacher pay shouldn't be increased, an Alabama lawmaker explained at a prayer breakfast this week, because the Bible says so. "If you double what you're paying education, you know what's going to happen?" asked state Sen. Shadrack McGill. "I've heard the comment many times, 'Well, the quality of education's going to go up.' That's never proven to happen, guys. It's a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher's pay scale, you'll attract people who aren't called to teach. And these teachers that are called to teach, regardless of the pay scale, they would teach. It's the ability that God give 'em." More»

Nicholas Kristof explains why teacher quality is so important

(NEWSER) - What should you do if the excellent teacher your child was supposed to have next year retires? "Correct answer? Panic!" writes Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times , or better yet, get the incoming class to raise $100,000 to convince the teacher to stay—it would be a bargain. A new study from Harvard and Columbia economists found that students who had a strong fourth-grade teacher earned an average $25,000 more over a lifetime—or about $700,000 total for the average size class. More»