Pay, Parental Help Needed (Editorial)

There’s probably no need to echo the chorus of media and political amens already given Gov. Mike Huckabee’s teacher raise proposal, but here goes.

Amen.

The $80 million initiative — $3,000 per teacher over the next two years — would be money well-spent, despite the fact that the funds have yet to be found. Investing in public school teachers is investing in Arkansas, since they’re the ones most directly contributing to the education of tomorrow’s business and technology leaders.

But part of that logic is the real problem with education across the country.

We acknowledge that most of the state’s teachers are underpaid. But in Springdale, for instance, newcomers are salaried at $30,000 and up. And Huckabee’s proposal would even include increases for principals, some of whom in Northwest Arkansas make close to six figures.

Many folks in manufacturing and the media would gladly trade paychecks.

Pay teachers more, because too many good ones are leaving for more lucrative private-sector jobs. But also face the primary reason Arkansas compares dismally to other states in education — insufficient motivation and support.

Too many teachers are the only mentors for students in their classrooms. Letters from teachers to area legislators indicate the need for more motivation and support on the home front. Parents who don’t get involved in their children’s education do a disservice to their kids and their communities.

What’s needed are parents willing to support stricter standards and benchmarks for advancement, disciplinary policies that ensure safe and productive environments, and administrators with the courage to enforce the same expectations whether a kid’s parents are loud or loaded.

Social promotion is detrimental to society. It contributes to the “Dogpatch Factor” that hamstrings Arkansas’ lagging technology sector. Since we’re behind, shouldn’t we be working harder to get ahead?

Already, some states require exit exams for graduation. But in Arkansas, students can still matriculate with a grade-point average of 1.0.

Shouldn’t that be the governor’s and the 83rd General Assembly’s No. 1 priority?

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We applaud state Rep. Kim Hendren, R-Gravette. He is midway through observing at least one class at every school in his District 1. How many superintendents have visited a classroom lately?