The edublog community is buzzing with ire, in response to news reports that US Secretary of Education Rod Paige referred to the National Education Association -- 2.7 million teachers strong -- as a “terrorist organization.” In fact, the NEA is formally asking for Paige's resignation, while Paige himself is issuing a formal apology.

The stir is strong. In my inbox today, the activist organization, Give Kids Good Schools provided a link to a webform concerned citizens can use to file thier protest about this obviously inappropriate comment. While you're there, you might want to dig around their website to learn more about this interesting organization, which is currently pressuring the government to put it's money where its mouth is and back up the No Child Left Behind act with adequate funding. You might find their "fast facts about America's teachers" page a refreshing reminder of how valuable teachers really are...and also how little they are rewarded for it.

One statistic that shocked me:

A teacher in his or her twenties makes about $8,000 less per year than other college-educated professionals. The gap widens to $24,000 for those 44-55, and it is worse for those with a master’s degree - climbing to a $32,000 difference.

While I've always known that teachers make less money than, say, bankers, I hadn't thought through this point about age differences and the discrepencies among those holding a master's degree. But now that I see it, it's obvious. But don't be mislead: it's also still advisable for teachers to get Master's anyway -- though they'll still make 32K less than others, they'll likely make 10K more than they would without one. In other words, teachers need to earn a Master's degree if they want to be equitable with those professionals who have a BA. This means sacrificing time, as well as money, to improve society and reap the rewards of helping others grow.

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