The average national salary for a teacher is $56,272. The average salary for a floor broker on Wall Street is $83,608. It is not the money that attracts people into teaching. In lieu of higher compensation, a semblance of security and a decent retirement plan seemed like a fair exchange, although still not sufficient to attract the majority of our college graduates. Now, with teacher salaries and benefits under attack, what will induce our best and brightest to go into teaching? As we get rid of the inadequate teachers who don’t belong in the classroom, who will take their place? Who will want to work in the dropout factories and failing schools in the isolated rural areas of America and in the ghettos of our small towns and cities?
As has always been the case, there will be educators who will rise to the challenge and volunteer to work with the students who will benefit the most from their passion and commitment. But there will not be enough of them. Our disadvantaged students are about to encounter the “perfect storm”: a lack of resources needed to ensure they are not left behind and an insufficient number of talented individuals, who will opt for work in any field but education so as not to be subjected to low salaries, poor benefits, and public abuse.
Dan Domenech is executive director of the American Association of School Administrators.
More from AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech:
School leaders need more help, and not red tape, to transform education
- 2 ways to support eRate modernization - May 19, 2014
- A college readiness tool that every district should use - January 2, 2014
- Time to focus on the real education problem: Poverty - October 3, 2013