The Mystery of Good TeachingEducation Next Issue Cover

Surveying the evidence on student achievement and teachers' characteristics.

By Dan Goldhaber

An example of what can happen when something isn't voluntarily funded.

I am often told that teachers are paid too little for the amount of education they have. "What other occupation that requires a masters degree are paid so little?"

I have several families and friends that teach at private schools where they make 20-50 percent less than public school. They are not overly amused when they see the public school teachers lobbying to get paid more. I remember this one time sitting on top of a mountain while snowboarding taking in the beauty with one of these teacher friends who was on his Christmas vacation. He looks over at me "Can you believe teachers actually complain about their pay? My job rocks."