What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[Luke]

Hey duders, check the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/10/ ... m=facebook

Frown: If those majors and salaries were reversed, we might build a better society.

[Jmustang1968]

Hey duders, check the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/10/ ... m=facebook

Frown: If those majors and salaries were reversed, we might build a better society.

I disagree. While I agree teachers should get paid a bit more, the degrees on top are either more difficult and/or specialized, and more in demand. They follow basic economic principles.

[Luke]

I disagree. While I agree teachers should get paid a bit more, the degrees on top are either more difficult and/or specialized, and more in demand. They follow basic economic principles.

Hence the word "might".

There is also no reliable "economic principles" when it comes to the monetary amount of salary. Averages are that, average. I hate studies that state: "The average x makes y".

Yeah, but how much does Exceptional x make? I would have to had been both an elementary school teacher and a college professor to say one of those occupations is more difficult than the other, but I can tell you this: I've guest lectured at both the undergrad and graduate level and it was a walk in the park. But no way could I handle a classroom of thirty kids.

And Dishy can weigh on this, but in my experience most Professors are more concerned with publication over education. You need to get printed, heavily, and that is usually the road to tenure.

[Jmustang1968]

I disagree. While I agree teachers should get paid a bit more, the degrees on top are either more difficult and/or specialized, and more in demand. They follow basic economic principles.

Hence the word "might".

There is also no reliable "economic principles" when it comes to the monetary amount of salary. Averages are that, average. I hate studies that state: "The average x makes y".

Yeah, but how much does Exceptional x make? I would have to had been both an elementary school teacher and a college professor to say one of those occupations is more difficult than the other, but I can tell you this: I've guest lectured at both the undergrad and graduate level and it was a walk in the park. But no way could I handle a classroom of thirty kids.

And Dishy can weigh on this, but in my experience most Professors are more concerned with publication over education. You need to get printed, heavily, and that is usually the road to tenure.

I am talking about difficulty of the major and coursework. That difficulty creates specialization and demand vs low supply. Salaries generally tend to reflect this. And in anything there are exceptions.

I don't mean to imply teachers arent important, but their degrees are relatively easier and there are a bunch of them.

[Ack]

Hey duders, check the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/10/ ... m=facebook

Frown: If those majors and salaries were reversed, we might build a better society.

I disagree. While I agree teachers should get paid a bit more, the degrees on top are either more difficult and/or specialized, and more in demand. They follow basic economic principles.

And admittedly in some of these cases, you also have to consider whether the pay was the reason someone entered such a career. Take the Relgious and Theological vocation. If you're doing that for money, you're probably doing it wrong anyway.

Now, are these statistics supposed to be for midpoints in an average career? If so, I can compare my academic background to the list, because I know the midpoint salary average for someone with my graduate degree as of summer 2013. It's roughly $58,000 for those with a masters in Library Science or related fields. But that statistic is also a bit misleading because Library students tend to go one of three routes: traditional librarianship(which pays abyssmally and would rank amongst the lowest earners), academia(pays a little above the average), and information stewardship for governments or corporations(pays much higher than the average).

[Luke]

I am talking about difficulty of the major and coursework. That difficulty creates specialization and demand vs low supply.

It's the application of what you have learned from that major and coursework that is difficult, not regurgitating what you've studied. Not saying that you are saying otherwise, but professors aren't judged as educators. They mostly "Want you to think" and not "Teach them to think".

Teaching someone to think, getting everyone to pass EOGs is much more difficult in my eyes than showing a powerpoint lecture.

[Jmustang1968]

I am talking about difficulty of the major and coursework. That difficulty creates specialization and demand vs low supply.

It's the application of what you have learned from that major and coursework that is difficult, not regurgitating what you've studied. Not saying that you are saying otherwise, but professors aren't judged as educators. They mostly "Want you to think" and not "Teach them to think".

Teaching someone to think, getting everyone to pass EOGs is much more difficult in my eyes than showing a powerpoint lecture.

I'm not so much talking teacher vs professor but the bottom list compared to top. Liberal arts and teaching vs engineering and med drs.

Professors make more because they are more specialized as they are more educated and at least have a masters or doctorate vs teachers with just a bachelors. Same goes for medical doctors.

While engineers typically only have a bachelors, the engineering majors are arguably the toughest to complete. This weeds out many based on skillsets and aptitude among other things. Again, this creates specialization. Unless you go into R&D and such, engineers don't even utilize more than 10-15% of the course work from schook. It becomes even more specialized on the job training, but employers need to know one has the ability to perform the problem solving for their career. A prerequisite qualification.

[Luke]

Professors make more because they are more specialized as they are more educated and at least have a masters or doctorate vs teachers with just a bachelors. Same goes for medical doctors.

Specialization and extra education does not have anything to do with intelligence. Not to go Inazuma on ya, but some of the most educated people I know are the dumbest people I know.

Smart means jack. It's being able to sell your intelligence that matters in the USA.

[Jmustang1968]

Professors make more because they are more specialized as they are more educated and at least have a masters or doctorate vs teachers with just a bachelors. Same goes for medical doctors.

Specialization and extra education does not have anything to do with intelligence. Not to go Inazuma on ya, but some of the most educated people I know are the dumbest people I know.

Smart means jack. It's being able to sell your intelligence that matters in the USA.

You are arguing points I didn't bring up. Putting words in my mouth (or keyboard)

I would say there is some level of correlation as intelligent people often seek education, but it isn't a measuring stick by any means.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Education may be a comparatively "easy" major, but teaching is certainly not an easy job.