(the argument is that they earn far less than equivalently trained professions which is objectively true no matter how you dice it)
I've never seen this argument, and frankly, I don't really understand it -- what are "equivalently trained professions", and why all "equivalently trained professions" should be paid the same?
and, second, teachers really are paid less on a per hour basis than the OECD average which makes your statistic super misleading.
That's interesting, can you show me some data behind it? I haven't heard this one either.
It's incredibly common. Even here on HN. I personally empathize with it because I'm a programmer and I'm quite certain much of the work I do provides less value than a decent teacher would _in the long term_.
Societies benefit from paying teachers more as:
- they deserve more
- higher salaries attract better teachers and actual domain experts who have little economic incentive to teach when they can make more elsewhere.
- a better educated workforce will pay for itself in the long run, although I think FUD over deficit spending isn't necessary here and would be fine if it eventually creates increased output/asset creation.
I am not claiming that these ideas are proven, just that I personally empathize with them. If you or anyone has research to counter or back up these claims that would be very helpful.
Comments
I've never seen this argument, and frankly, I don't really understand it -- what are "equivalently trained professions", and why all "equivalently trained professions" should be paid the same?
That's interesting, can you show me some data behind it? I haven't heard this one either.
It's incredibly common. Even here on HN. I personally empathize with it because I'm a programmer and I'm quite certain much of the work I do provides less value than a decent teacher would _in the long term_.
Societies benefit from paying teachers more as:
- they deserve more
- higher salaries attract better teachers and actual domain experts who have little economic incentive to teach when they can make more elsewhere.
- a better educated workforce will pay for itself in the long run, although I think FUD over deficit spending isn't necessary here and would be fine if it eventually creates increased output/asset creation.
I am not claiming that these ideas are proven, just that I personally empathize with them. If you or anyone has research to counter or back up these claims that would be very helpful.