[Vision2020] Logical Error! Letter to the Editor: Teacher salary article

[Dale Courtney]

Ted wrote: 
> I have discovered several logical errors in Dale's arguments 
> regarding teacher pay.

Let's have at it!
 
> Dale asserts that teachers pay should be "annualized" to 
> truly reflect what they could earn over the course of a full 
> year as if two months of extra pay were tacked on to their 
> yearly salary by dividing their salary by ten and multiplying 
> this figure by 2 for the extra two months.  But in fact if 
> teachers are required to attend summer school during this 
> "off" time, part of the requirements of their profession 
> negates the possibility they could work full time during this 
> "off" period, so in fact it is not correct to claim their 
> salary must be annualized for a true estimate of their income 
> compared to other professions.

They are not *required* to attend during school during that off time. They
can teach summer school, go on a 3 month cruise, or hand out carts at
Wal-Mart. It's up to them. 

The point is -- it is an *opportunity* for them to earn extra money. Going
to school is one way that they can increase their pay. 
 
> Also, Dale's referencing of the concept of "opportunity 
> costs" is in some cases backwards from what it appears he 
> intends to assert via the use of this concept.  If a teacher 
> must take summer school during the summer 2 month break from 
> the regular school year as a requirement of their profession, 
> and their next best alternative would be to work a well 
> paying job during this 2 month period instead, the 
> "opportunity cost" of summer school is in part the loss of 
> the income that could have been generated by working during 
> summer school.

No, they must *not* take classes. It is an opportunity to. 

Please read up on what Opportunity Costs mean in the economic sense. It's
quite revealing: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/OpportunityCost.html

> Read the passage below and see the link Dale supplied on 
> "opportunity costs" 
> in regards to my arguments above.

You missed the boat because there is no mandatory thing that government
teachers *must* do during their summers off. That's what makes it a real
dream for their opportunities. 

Best,
Dale