[Vision2020] re: Logical Error! Letter to the Editor:

Dale Courtney dale@courtneys.us
Wed, 30 Jul 2003 11:34:20 -0700


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Don,
 
We agree! Just because someone has a degree in history (or in any subject)
doesn't make him/her an excellent teacher. 
 
However, everyone is paid on the exact same, regardless of their merit as a
teacher (just add the number of college hours+ years having taught --
regardless of whether you are an excellent or miserable teacher). Can you
please explain to me how this is a good way to base teachers salaries? 
 
There are three issues here: 

*	

	Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you're ipso facto a good
teacher. 
*	

	There are subject matters (math/science) where there is a shortage
because those teachers are underpaid compared to the teacher pool available
in other curriculums (e.g., "Home Economics"). 
*	

	Just why do we need elementary school teachers with Masters Degrees
and PhD's? The only reason is to increase their pay scale. As Jack Wenders
has demonstrated in his research, 

Lest anyone think that I'm attacking teachers, think again. Just because I
criticize a broken system doesn't mean that I'm critical of the teachers
themselves. 
 
Best,
Dale
 



While it is true that, as Dale Courtney posted, "History majors are a dime a
dozen", I submit to you that most of them would make lousy teachers, and
have no desire to do my job.

Regards,

Don Kaag


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<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003>Don,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003>We agree! Just because someone has a degree =
in history=20
(or in <U>any</U> subject)&nbsp;doesn't make him/her an excellent =
teacher.=20
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003><U>However</U>, everyone is paid on the exact =
same,=20
regardless of their merit as a teacher (just add the number of college =
hours+=20
years having taught -- regardless of whether you are an excellent or =
miserable=20
teacher). Can you please explain to me how this is a good way to base =
teachers=20
salaries? </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D177173517-30072003>There are three issues here: =
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<UL dir=3Dltr>
  <LI>
  <DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D177173517-30072003>Just because you have a degree doesn't mean =
you're=20
  <EM>ipso facto</EM> a good teacher. </SPAN></FONT></DIV></LI>
  <LI>
  <DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D177173517-30072003>There <U>are</U> subject matters =
(math/science) where=20
  there is a shortage because <U>those</U> teachers are underpaid =
compared to=20
  the teacher pool available in other curriculums (e.g., "Home =
Economics").=20
  </SPAN></FONT></DIV></LI>
  <LI>
  <DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D177173517-30072003>Just <U>why</U> do we need elementary =
school teachers=20
  with Masters Degrees and PhD's? The <U>only</U> reason is to increase =
their=20
  pay scale. As Jack Wenders has demonstrated in his research,=20
  </SPAN></FONT></DIV></LI></UL>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><SPAN =
class=3D177173517-30072003>Lest=20
anyone think that I'm attacking teachers, think again. Just because I =
criticize=20
a broken system doesn't mean that I'm critical of the teachers =
themselves.=20
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D2><FONT=20
face=3DArial>Best,</FONT><BR></FONT><FONT face=3D"Vladimir Script"=20
size=3D5>Dale</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV><FONT=20
face=3D"Vladimir Script" color=3D#800000 size=3D5></FONT><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #800000 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">While=20
  it is true that, as Dale Courtney posted, "History majors are a dime a =
dozen",=20
  I submit to you that most of them would make lousy teachers, and have =
no=20
  desire to do my job.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Don =
Kaag</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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