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I would argue that discouraging very smart or technical people is typical for Western countries, and even more typical for the US. In Asian countries, the cultu

I would argue that discouraging very smart or technical people is typical for Western countries, and even more typical for the US. In Asian countries, the culture is much more favourable towards the smart and technical people (and, unfortunately, also much more competitive). I always read a lot about the shortage of people in STEM fields, and teachers. The US education system is absolutely horrible. I had to explain how percentages work to a university student (not a bad university either). However, teachers still have a terrible salary, and teaching anything lower than university level is not a respected profession.

tdb7893 10y ago
Teaching has a low salary because we have too many teachers. It would be strange to pay them more when there are already way more people who want to teach than there are jobs. The only reason to pay more would be to try to get higher quality teachers but I doubt an increase in pay will really increase quality much.
- japhyr 10y ago
  It might not increase quality initially, but it would make a difference in the long run. I know many bright people who don't consider teaching because they can have a much more comfortable life, both financially and bureaucratically, in other fields. I also know many people who leave teaching early in their careers because of the relatively low pay and frustrating bureaucracy. I've been a teacher for 20 years. It was deeply frustrating early in my career to meet teachers who were near the end of their careers, did a terrible job, and got paid almost twice what I made. This issue also varies widely throughout the country. I teach in Alaska, and pay here is decent. But there are parts of the country where I'd take a $20k+ cut in salary, without a corresponding cost of living change.
- alphydan 10y ago
  > we have too many teachers Are you really saying that doubling the number of teachers and reducing the number of students per class would not improve education? Would it not help with differentiated learning?

tdb7893 10y ago

Teaching has a low salary because we have too many teachers. It would be strange to pay them more when there are already way more people who want to teach than there are jobs. The only reason to pay more would be to try to get higher quality teachers but I doubt an increase in pay will really increase quality much.

japhyr 10y ago
It might not increase quality initially, but it would make a difference in the long run. I know many bright people who don't consider teaching because they can have a much more comfortable life, both financially and bureaucratically, in other fields. I also know many people who leave teaching early in their careers because of the relatively low pay and frustrating bureaucracy. I've been a teacher for 20 years. It was deeply frustrating early in my career to meet teachers who were near the end of their careers, did a terrible job, and got paid almost twice what I made. This issue also varies widely throughout the country. I teach in Alaska, and pay here is decent. But there are parts of the country where I'd take a $20k+ cut in salary, without a corresponding cost of living change.
alphydan 10y ago
> we have too many teachers Are you really saying that doubling the number of teachers and reducing the number of students per class would not improve education? Would it not help with differentiated learning?