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Paying Teachers For Poor Performance

“Why Pay Teachers More For Poor Student Performance?”
Editorial
Investor’s Business Daily
December 15, 2011

Does anyone poor-mouth their pay more than public school teachers? A new study finds that to the contrary, teachers make 50% more than comparable private workers. So what do taxpayers get for this premium?

The short answer is poor schools, falling test scores, high dropout-rates, foolish policies, a free ride for the academic bottom dwellers and a growing home-school movement fleeing the system.

In sum, a Big-Labor dominated system that serves itself — not the public.

Yet a joint study by the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute found teachers are overpaid by 50% when all their perks, benefits, tax breaks, vacations, pensions and job protections are added in.

And it’s costing the productive sector. “Generous fringe benefits for public-school teachers overcharge taxpayers $120 billion each year,” the report states.

Yet the output of public schools is abysmal, with many students graduating and unable to read, write or do simple math. No doubt, if public schools were private businesses, they’d be bankrupt.

How long would a factory stay in business if a third of its products were defective? Yet, that’s the share of semi-literate students public schools are turning out, all at a huge public cost in taxes and lost productivity.

None of this stops the teachers’ unions from repeating the canard that teachers are grossly underpaid — and the public must shell out more.

Our president agrees it’s a good idea. Obama took in more teachers’ union campaign funds than any other donor — $50 million in 2008. Not surprising, he touts pay hikes to teachers as his chief economic plan. “How do we pay them more?” he asked last month.

A quick search of the atmosphere around teachers’ salaries on Google News suggests he’s off base.

• In Sudbury, Mass., teachers are expected to get an 8% annual raise.

• Polk County, Florida teachers will get step raises.

• In Alameda County, Calif., unions are demanding the county drain its rainy day fund to pay teachers.

• In Richmond, Va., Gov. Bob McDonnell has struggled to find an extra $1.6 billion for teachers’ pensions.

Oh yes, and don’t forget that the largest chunk of the stimulus package of 2009 went to “education.” Or that New Jersey’s Gov. Chris Christie had to explain basic economics to an angry, six-figure teacher unwilling to accept a salary freeze.

Yet educational output isn’t improving.

Why throw more money at a costly and unproductive system without demanding better results?

In reality, it’s like pouring public money into bankrupt Solyndra — money straight down the drain.