Perhaps that statistic sheds some light on the current shortage of qualified teachers. It is no secret that it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract bright and talented people to the teaching profession, especially in the fields of mathematics, science and technology. While some may find his salary excessive, it is clear that with Norgel's experience, skills and work ethic, he could easily command a salary well above his pay in the private sector.
Teaching is no doubt a rewarding profession in many ways.
It is a vocation, however, that requires many hours of planning, preparing and learning outside of the classroom. In order to avoid a serious teacher shortage, good teachers must be compensated commensurate with other professions. For the benefit of our children, we must not continue to argue about salaries but instead work together to reward educators so we can continue to attract and retain talented individuals to the profession. I was horror-struck by a recent Journal Sentinel article on the exorbitant pay of some teachers in southern Wisconsin. Thank you, Journal Sentinel, for your front-page expose of this travesty.