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Here is a brief summary of Keefe's findings on the "research" done by AEI/Heritage on Teachers:
[The study was] Built on a series of faulty analyses, this study misrepresents total teacher compensation. Nonetheless, this problematic study will be used for headline-grabbing claims of dramatic overpayment of teachers. This is particularly troubling in the current political climate of budget cuts for education, weakening or elimination of teacher tenure, reduction of pension benefits, implementation of unproven merit pay policies, and the privatization of public education through charter schools and vouchers. Any discussion of teacher compensation should be based on high- quality evidence; this report does not advance that discussion.
In short, it is almost completely useless and was misused to spark headlines and bring even more negative attention to the teaching profession.
Sadly, "the report often fails to consider research that contradicts its findings."
Below are the faulty assumptions and analyses evident in the original study:
- The erroneous application of a cognitive ability model.
- The incorrect comparison of employee benefit costs.
- The erroneous health care funding assumptions.
- The double-counting of work year differences.
- The job stability “bonus”
According to the study, teachers don't have the cognitive ability of other professions, teacher pensions are too generous, health care costs are not representative of the private sector, teachers get too much time off, and having a stable job is like having a higher salary.
Keefe does an excellent job debunking the claims made in the study. Unfortunately, people who were outraged by the original report aren't likely read Keefe's review. His review isn't sexy and probably won't make headlines on Fox News.
It's about time that we start calling out groups like AEI and Heritage for their shoddy research. While their yellow journalistic tendencies may make headlines, real teachers are teaching real students with real problems in America's classrooms.
Do we really have the time to wade through their useless rhetoric?
