Teacher Pay Debate

Earlier this month, a research paper coming out of the Heritage Center for Data Analysis by Andrew Biggs and Jason Richwine claimed that teachers are overpaid compared to similarly educated counterparts in other professions.  The researchers added benefits to teacher pay--benefits most teachers never see because they are deferred until retirement age--and counted only teacher's on-the-clock hours, and NO summer hours.  [See comments by researcher, Jason Richwine, and myself below.)

The conclusions are extremely flawed.  Responses to the argument are now being posted at The Debate Club, including those of Linda Darling Hammond and Barnett Berry. (If you click over, make sure to hit the "up" arrow for the arguments you agree with.) Shaun Johnson posts an interesting response at the Huffington Post called, Who's Overpaid, Teachers or the Wonks Who Write About Them? Nancy Flanagan posted her response, Because I'm Worth It?, in which she compares the working conditions she experienced as a teacher with those of a position she took briefly at an education policy organization (a worthwhile read).  She also suggests that this research serves to distract the public from the real inequities of our education system.

My own take: The research is flawed and ridiculous to anyone who has experience teaching or knows much about the job, it's requirements and demands.  There's a longstanding misunderstanding and undervaluing of the work of teachers, rooted in sexism. When historical oppression is at work, there is often is a fine line between a viewpoint and a prejudice.

What is passing as a "debate" in the education world looks more to me like some researchers manipulating data to support their prejudicial standpoints.  There are many other discriminatory notions that can be supported by misleading data.  I'm surprised and disappointed that this biased work is accepted as research in 2011. I guess the silver lining could be the opportunity to expose an area of prejudice that remains hidden in fog in our country.

 

[image credit: psychologyinspiration.com]

Comments

[Jason Richwine]

A correction is needed.

You write: "The researchers added benefits to teacher pay--benefits most teachers never see because they are deferred until retirement age--and counted only teacher's on-the-clock hours, and NO summer hours."

All three claims in that quote are false. The benefits added are what the average teacher collects, taking into account that some teachers leave before accruing them. Hours are SELF-REPORTED work hours, not on-the-clock. Finally, sensitivity analysis was conducted on the length of summer vacations, recognizing that the issue is controversial.

Please post a correction so that future readers are not misled.

[Ariel Sacks]

Jason, thank you for reading and commenting on my blog.

In response to your first point about your data taking into account teachers leaving before accruing full benefits:

Edweek reported after your Washington presentation that, "When asked during the question and answer session if the study included data on teacher attrition rates and how those might affect the value of the retirement benefits teachers actually receive, the study's authors said they did not because of a 'data access issue.'"

http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2011/11/02/aei_teacherpay.html?r=1605384039

To your second point, that teachers self reported their hours in your study--what question did you ask them to answer? The wording of the question could lead in several different directions. A neutral question, such as, "What are your weekly work hours?" would likely prompt most teachers to fill in their official paid work hours, rather than the hours they actually work. I couldn't find this information in your report.

Finally, about summer hours. I'm not sure what you mean about sensitivity analysis and the controversial issue. I have six weeks of official summer vacation. I spend much of that time looking at data and reflecting on the past year, planning curriculum for the coming year, and reading and attending workshops for my professional growth. I don't earn additional pay for this work or any salary differential for the professional development I do voluntarily. This is common for teachers I know. Perhaps this is what makes the term "vacation" somewhat controversial.

[Jason Whitaker]

I have a friend who loves to go in on me about how easy teachers have it. He's quick to point out all the (false) facts floating around like vacation time, Summers, off at 330pm and so on. I've had an open offer to anyone who thinks this job is easy cake and that we don't truly earn our salt to come and teach any class for an amount of time I suggest. That offer hasn't been taken up at all.

I think the Teacher Pay debate really helps people feel better about Parents not Parenting Debate. Many people want us to turn water into wine, but give us some pretty dirty water to start or just a bucket of sand. By arguing that teachers aren't doing what they need to do they take the scope off that true fact that parents aren't doing all they can to help.

[Bernard]

Awesome blog. Very informative. Your blog is very valuable from the blogger’s mind. Keep it up!