Teacher Pay Study Asks the Wrong Question, Ignores Facts, Insults Teachers
As millions of Americans search for work, and millions more scrape by to make ends meet, researchers from two conservative Washington think tanks have recently announced a "finding" that defies common-sense: America's teachers are overpaid by more than 50 percent.
The new paper from the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation fails on several levels. First, it asks the wrong question. Second, it ignores facts that conflict with its conclusions. Lastly, it insults teachers and demeans the profession.
Instead of asking whether teachers are overpaid, the AEI/Heritage researchers should have asked what it would take to recruit and retain highly effective teachers for all students. Surveys show that many talented and committed young people are reluctant to enter teaching for the long haul because they think the profession is low-paying and not prestigious enough.
McKinsey & Co. did a study last year comparing the U.S. to other countries and found that