Free Press – April 24, 2008

Finlandia, Dr. Leight Teachers Salaries, Smerconish GOP

Dear Friends,

Good morning. Before I get to a former school board director’s thoughts about teacher compensation; plus last week’s Democratic presidential debate; and columnist Michael Smerconish’s reasoning about the GOP’s loss of the suburbs, here’s a hilarious story.

Do you remember my March 27 column about the world’s worst orchestra? A New York Times article described a Scottish orchestra, which requires no auditions and consequently attracts players of dubious ability. Believe it or not, they’re remarkably popular. Their concerts pack the house and they even sell recordings. In the article, one “musician” was playing a different piece from his colleagues.

Can you imagine someone playing Beethoven while another plays Mozart? Good grief!

I passed the article to my friend, Francis Ballard. He replied with a story of his own. Francis sings with the Orpheus Club in Philadelphia. It’s the oldest men’s glee club in America. They present three concerts yearly and their loyal patrons fill the 2,000-seat Academy of Music or the Kimmel Performing Arts Center.

Francis told me that 40 years ago, Orpheus was giving a concert at the Academy of Music. After the club finished a number, one of the singers forgot what was next on the program. He whispered to his neighbor, “What’s the next song?”

His fellow singer replied, “Finlandia.”

“Holy smokes,” the first man exclaimed, “I just sang Finlandia!”

Dressed in white tie and tails, the men must have looked more impressive than they sounded.

And now to business.

Dr. Robert Leight is a recently retired Quakertown school board member. He sent me a “Snapshot” from the Economic Policy Institute (April 2), which compares American salaries to other countries. The “Snapshot” showed ten countries’ starting teacher salaries as a percentage of per capita, gross domestic product (GDP).

The U. S. finished last.

The countries and their percentage of per capita GDP are: South Korea, 141 percent; Germany, 141 percent; Netherlands, 99 %; Hong Kong, 97 %; England, 96 %; Australia, 96 %, Finland, 95 %, Singapore, 95 %; Belgium, 92 %; and the United States…81 %.

For years, I’ve argued that the main reason why Asian and European students perform better than their American peers is because of comparatively low teacher salaries in America and fewer teaching days during the year. Why would the brightest college students choose teaching for a career when they could earn twice as much in another profession? Why do we stick to a system begun in the agricultural days of the 19^th century? Most American schools continue to teach 180 days each year when the Asian and European competition teaches as many as 240 days?

“A recent study by McKinsey and Co. argues that good starting salaries are an essential ingredient for getting the right people to become teachers,” the Economic Policy Institute stated. “Unless school systems offer salaries commensurate with that in other career opportunities, the teaching profession will not attract equivalent candidates.”

Personally, I believe that teachers should be among the highest paid of all the professions…as long as there’s an effective way to judge quality and fire teachers who do not measure up. Unfortunately, that’s not the case today. America’s future depends upon the best teachers we can find…and you can’t accomplish that mission on the cheap.

Item.

The Democratic presidential debate in Philadelphia was a disappointment. The moderators spent half of the 90-minute debate on recent Clinton and Obama gaffs instead of asking them to describe their plans for health care, energy, and social security programs…just as important…how their programs will be paid for.

And, speaking about gaffs, I was amazed how the press jumped on Obama for his comments about Pennsylvanians who are “bitter” about their economic circumstances. Friends, Obama spoke the truth. For 30 years, presidential candidates have promised residents in small towns across America that their presidential policies would improve the quality of their lives. Neither the Democratic or Republican Parties have delivered on their promises.

Are Pennsylvanians in the coal and steel communities bitter? You bet they are.

Final item.

“Republicans are wondering what enabled the Democratic Party to take the lead in registration in both Bucks and Montgomery Counties,” Michael Smerconish asked in his Philadelphia Inquirer column (April 13)?

Smerconish gave the correct answer.

“It’s not that the [GOP] party isn’t conservative enough to win the suburbs; it is that the party is too conservative and has lost touch with a suburban constituency,” he wrote.

“Fault for that lies in the party’s national image,” Smerconish continued. “In Washington, the GOP has been on the wrong side of many hot-button issues. As these issues have unfolded…the war in Iraq, Terri Schiavo, global warming, stem-cell research, and the ever-present issue of reproductive choice…the Democratic Party has made strides in the suburbs. Instead of listening to its more-moderate voices, the GOP has instead concentrated on stoking its hard-core base…a minority of Americans…by taking time out of the legislative schedule to posture on issues such as same-sex relationships.

“That may play [well] in Lititz, Pennsylvania,” he said, “but it doesn’t wash in Lower Merion.”

Smerconish is right on the money.

You readers know that I’m furious with my Republican Party. So, what’s the cure? A resounding Republican defeat in November. The only way that the GOP will become competitive with the Democrats is to return to its core beliefs…smaller government, lower taxes, support for science, better intelligence in foreign affairs, ending America’s dependence upon Middle East oil, and avoid putting the government in our bedrooms.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith