The number one factor affecting education outcomes isn't teacher salaries, tenure, or education budgets. It's parent involvement (see http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED375968 for an overview of some of the many studies showing this). Simply put, children whose parents take an active role on their education easily outperform children whose parents treat public education as free daycare. Thus, throwing more money at schools and teachers will at best solve only a few of the challenges public education faces. It would be better if some of that money and effort was redirected toward promoting more parental involvement in each child's education.
Comments
The number one factor affecting education outcomes isn't teacher salaries, tenure, or education budgets. It's parent involvement (see http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED375968 for an overview of some of the many studies showing this). Simply put, children whose parents take an active role on their education easily outperform children whose parents treat public education as free daycare. Thus, throwing more money at schools and teachers will at best solve only a few of the challenges public education faces. It would be better if some of that money and effort was redirected toward promoting more parental involvement in each child's education.