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Good post. I'm curious about something else in addition. I've heard from friends in teaching that there has been a massive increase in administrative overhead a
by entee 10y ago
Good post. I'm curious about something else in addition. I've heard from friends in teaching that there has been a massive increase in administrative overhead and concentration of power both at the school district (superindents, sub-superintendent, deputy-sub-superintendent) and the school level (increased power and poorly targeted accountability for principals+other school officials). These friends have told me that this has made their job less fulfilling and that the union gives them a way to advocate for themselves in the face of these developments. Is that something you've heard as well and do you think pay increases would be attractive enough to alleviate those issues?
Also, I keep hearing that we're spending more per pupil than ever and yet none of that money seems to end up with the people who most deserve it: the teachers. How come? Is it all going to that administrative overhead? Or are things like operating costs for school facilities going through the (literal and figurative) roof?
- schismsubv 10y agoConsider it an anecdote, but my direct experience is exactly what you have heard. Consider that the ratio of administrators to classroom teachers is rarely lower than half the union-specified maximal classroom ratio (e.g., <1:10 administrators to teachers versus >=1:30 students to teachers). Administration is a big issue but is still probably not the origin of the problem. For that, look to No Child Left Behind and the abject pursuit of test scores.