Education: A right or privilege?

[New wine skin]

Avg Public School Teacher salary $46k (range 33k to 57k) from CNN article all of US:

"Salaries are often seen as an important reason why schools struggle to hire and keep teachers, particularly in subject areas or locations that have frequent shortages of instructors. State lawmakers, facing financial struggles, have focused on enticing teachers into the hardest-to-fill positions, said Scott Young, a senior policy specialist for the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"There's just not money available to jack up salaries across the board," Young said."

As I was reading this article, It came to mind that perhaps teachers are underpaid because society places a low value on their service and/or because its a burden no one wants to carry for the future generation. So, while some people may say education is important on the surface, if we press down I think we find that society as a whole votes with their pocket book. I think most people today would rather spend $$ on Disney land, Louie Vatton and Lexus than the education system. Dr Schaeffer argues our society is governed by affluence and personal peace. I think he is correct. Maybe I am stretching his thesis to apply it to our failing education system????
Now even if our nation decided to spend more money on education, this got me thinking about who is entitled to an education??? Should we continue with the trend of an egalitarian system which means all should get equal opportunity, or should we build a system with emphasis to reward those with aptitude regardless of race, class or affluence? Is education a right as an American or a privilege ????



I am working toward entering this field someday and thought this would be an interesting topic for discussion.

 

[ReformedWretch]

I don't have an answer just yet, but this should be very intresting!

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

who is entitled to an education??? Should we continue with the trend of an egalitarian system which means all should get equal opportunity, or should we build a system with emphasis to reward those with aptitude regardless of race, class or affluence? Is education a right as an American or a privilege ????

God requires fathers to teach their children. I don't believe the responsibility lays on the govenment, even though they have taken it. Responsibility is a family issue. The family is the most important form of government. We need to get back to this first.

[Edited on 6-24-2005 by puritancovenanter]

 

[New wine skin]

Originally posted by puritancovenanter

who is entitled to an education??? Should we continue with the trend of an egalitarian system which means all should get equal opportunity, or should we build a system with emphasis to reward those with aptitude regardless of race, class or affluence? Is education a right as an American or a privilege ????

God requires fathers to teach their children. I don't believe the responsibility lays on the govenment, even though they have taken it. Responsibility is a family issue. The family is the most important form of government. We need to get back to this first.

[Edited on 6-24-2005 by puritancovenanter]

ok, so the govt is a means of eduction for most... however the law requires your children to get up to HS education and you still get to pay taxes for public school even if you dont use it. How do you think they should spend your tax money?

We will grant that your children may be in homeschool, but what about the other 30 million kids who rely on our tax money? or if your kids go to state college? no homeschool for that.... unless you can afford private college at 25k per semester your back in the boat to rely on partial state supported schools.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I am not saying trash the educational system. I believe it is a bankrupt bureaucracy. We can't change it without the squeals of removing the power of taxes from the government. I believe we could educate children for less money than they spend. Discipline will have to be returned to the classroom first. Parental responsibility is the main problem In my humble opinion though.

 

[New wine skin]

I agree with you on that. The family is the basis of society. Discipline has been lost, bureaucrates and PAC's like ACLU threaten superintendents with lawsuits etc... the govt wastes money. All these are valid concerns but I was hoping to discuss the issue of right vs privilege on public education since it exists as an institution in the US and is here to stay...

 

[Texas Aggie]

It's nice to have public education. It is a privilege for all those who take advantage of it; however, it should never be a right.

Unruly children have no place in the classroom. Teachers are teachers not disciplinarians (which is also a parent responsibility). The burden needs to be placed on the parent.

Unruly children need to get the boot from public education... this puts the burden of funding private schooling on the parents. In addition, non-taxpayers should not get a free education. Illegal immigrants should get the boot as well.

Education is a privilege not a right.

 

[LadyFlynt]

46k is underpaid??? My hubby makes half of that! Underpaid is when teachers worked for chickens because they actually care about teaching than making the dough. Personally, especially taken in the quality of the "education" nowadays from "most" (with exceptions to the few--kerry )...they are overpaid in many areas (I'll admit the few where they are paid living wages...but I don't think they are UNDERpaid). Just MHO.

[Edited on 6-24-2005 by LadyFlynt]

[Edited on 6-24-2005 by LadyFlynt]

 

[RamistThomist]

Education or right:
Technically speaking, the government has no "right" to kidnap our kids (you had mentioned required HS attendance) and indoctrinate them in anti-christian philosophy. To the extent that the Pagans don't screw it up and actually teach something (tall order, I know), then it might be considered a
"privilege."

The Father/head of household/legal guardian/church has the "right" and the "duty" to educate chirrens.

 

[Texas Aggie]

Secondary teaching is one of the lowest paid white collar professions in the nation (just take a comparative look at the salaries). 46K is terrible for teachers nowadays.

Why is this? Teacher salaries are low across the board because most people believe anyone can be a teacher (requires no talent, gift or skill). Further more, teaching is viewed as glorified babysitting. This is far from the truth.

Unfortunately, the pay is so bad now that true talent evades the profession. Teacher raises usually find their way into insurance company coffers (the state gives a raise, insurance rates immediately go up).

Watch out folks.... medicine is next. Malpractice is already driving obstetricians, anesthesiologists and general surgeons out of many states. Hospitals, HMOs and insurance companies are in bed together taking the high salaries from those "greedy" doctors. Pretty soon doctors will be just like teachers... nobody wants to be one because there is no money involved.

46K is more appropriately paid to a seasoned veteran in the field (still chicken feed). Take a look at the new hires (keep in mind each sate is different). The teaching profession should be one of the most diligently screened and highly paid fields. The education system in the country is a joke.