I think teachers are, in general, overpaid, and that their “deal” (the whole package) is much, MUCH better than most workers get.
But using outcomes of the “product” is unreasonable and unfair.
Education is not something you can GIVE, like a shot of penicillin. It’s something that a well-prepared and well-disposed student TAKES. There are schools all over the world, even in Africa, which graduate outstanding, well educated pupils.
But no school tasked with universal, mandatory education after age 11-12 can accomplish this unless it serves an exclusive community with much, much higher than average incomes. It’s much better if the population has a large representation of Jews and East Asians.
The reason the scores are so low is not the teachers. It’s the students. And that’s not a problem that teachers can, or should be expected, to fix.
End mandatory schooling at eighth grade, and everything will get better, instantly.
Let's get right down to the raw truth, shall we? The reason scores are low is not teachers or students, it's the parents.
But don't mind me. I'm just an old guy who's so thankful for parents who forced me to do what I should and didn't hesitate to whomp my rear end if I screwed up. God rest their souls.
‘End mandatory schooling at eighth grade, and everything will get better, instantly.’
interesting suggestion, but if we don’t like seeing teachers hitting the streets now, imagine what would happen with all the layoffs necessitated by the reduced student body...