Honor Thy Teacher

By MATT MILLER

Published: May 28, 2005

A poll this week showed Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating at 40 percent, thanks to months of punishing ads that teachers' unions have run to blast his call for merit pay. In New York, meanwhile, teachers working without a new contract are campaigning to oust Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his "disrespect."

Around now, Arnold and Mike must be thinking: wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to soothe the savage union beast - while also reforming destructive union practices so that we could recruit a new generation of talent to the classroom?

There is a way: commit to making the best teachers of poor children millionaires by the time they retire. Done right, this idea would be a win for the kids, the teachers, the unions and the pols.

Researchers agree that one of the best things government can do to help poor children is raise teacher quality. Yet poor schools today attract the bottom third of the college class. Why? Compare a typical urban district with its affluent suburbs nearby. When the suburbs (1) pay more, (2) have better working conditions and (3) serve easier-to-teach kids who bring fewer problems to school, it's no surprise that the best teachers gravitate to the best suburban schools.