| We as a society love teachers. They are the | | | | teacher was paid 36 percent more per hour than |
| nurturers of talent. The cultivators of intelligence. | | | | the average non-sales white-collar worker and |
| The rudder that steers this nation's future | | | | 11% more than the average professional specialty |
| generations. They represent some of our fondest | | | | and technical worker. Using that same 2005 data |
| memories. But that doesn't mean they aren't part | | | | we find that the average net monthly income for |
| of the sacrifice that we are making as a nation to | | | | a United States' teacher was almost $1,000 more |
| get our finances back on track. | | | | than a UK teacher and about $1,8000 more than |
| Let me repeat: they must be part of the sacrifice. | | | | a Canadian teacher. |
| Unfortunately, the Obama administration doesn't | | | | Given these statistics it is little wonder that New |
| think so. Instead, they have chosen to use | | | | Jersey Governor Chris Christie had this to say |
| teacher's as a national lightning rod. Teachers hold | | | | recently: |
| a revered place within our psyche. We assume | | | | "This teacher complaining, they're getting 4 and 5 |
| that what is best for them is best for the nation. | | | | percent salary increases a year. In a 0 percent |
| Because of that fundamental, and consistently | | | | inflation world... They get free health benefits from |
| unquestioned belief within each of us, Democrats | | | | the day they're hired for their entire family until |
| have backed Republicans into a corner. | | | | the day they die. They believe they are entitled |
| They recently passed a $26 billion state aid bill, a | | | | to this shelter from the recession when the |
| significant chunk of which went towards teacher | | | | people who are paying for that shelter are the |
| salaries. The Obama administration has been | | | | people who have been laid off, who've lost their |
| everywhere trying to sell this talking point. Look | | | | homes, had their hours cut back." |
| at all the teachers' jobs we saved! Look how | | | | Now, let me clarify what I am, and am not, |
| much we care about education and about creating | | | | saying. I'm not saying that teacher's aren't |
| a strong foundation for tomorrow! They've been | | | | incredibly important cogs in the social machine. I'm |
| like a Snuggie infomercial - everywhere. | | | | not saying that they aren't worth every penny |
| Consider these tidbits of propaganda from the | | | | they've earned. And I'm certainly not saying they |
| Organizing for America's website: "Teachers, | | | | shouldn't be a priority in the recovery. What I am |
| firefighters, police officers and the communities | | | | saying is that our nation as a whole is going to |
| they serve can breath a little easier today, thanks | | | | have to make sacrifices and teachers, whose pay |
| to President Obama signing into law emergency | | | | represents an enormous part of state budget |
| aid for states and preventing layoffs scheduled | | | | expenditures, must be part of that sacrifice. |
| for this fall." | | | | Part of that sacrifice is accepting a wage freeze. |
| Or this line from President Obama: "We can't | | | | That is all Chris Christie asked of them. That is all |
| stand by and do nothing wile pink slips are given | | | | we would need to ask of teachers nationwide. |
| to the men and women who educate our | | | | Accept a wage freeze and I guarantee that we |
| children." | | | | would not be forced into a position where we |
| The question is, how did we get to this point? | | | | must lay off teachers to keep the budget in the |
| How did we get to the point where we need to | | | | black. That is the real problem. We've been |
| bail out teachers? | | | | presented with a false choice. Obama would have |
| Money is often said to be the root of all evil. In | | | | you believe that if we don't give the states |
| Washington the opposite is believed to be true - | | | | another $26 billion then teachers would be fired. In |
| money is the root of all solutions. For instance, | | | | reality, if state employees were willing to make an |
| consider that spending per student has increased | | | | initial sacrifice, a sacrifice many private sector |
| by 49 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars over the | | | | workers have made without even being |
| past 20 years. Despite the increases long-term | | | | presented with a choice, we wouldn't need to |
| measures of academic achievement have not | | | | spend more federal money that we don't have. |
| improved at anything resembling a comparable | | | | I know criticizing teachers is taboo. I know |
| level. And although we constantly hear that | | | | President Obama will likely be praised to high |
| "teachers are chronically underpaid," have we ever | | | | heaven for his bold steps to protect the |
| stopped to question whether they in fact are? | | | | undervalued profession. But I also know we are in |
| According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics | | | | up to our necks in red ink and I just wish |
| elementary school teacher salaries increased from | | | | government employees would join us in making |
| $46,990 to $52,240 between 2005 and 2008. Or | | | | sacrifices. |
| consider that in 2005 the average public school | | | | |