Are minority teachers saving our schools?

One can often hear the argument that if teaching is an underpaid and unappreciated profession (which it arguably is), then the best potential teachers will simply opt to pursue another career. This may then take its toll on our children.

Considering that most teachers are women, and that women’s average annual income rose by 50% from 1985 to 2000, while real wages in education only increased 15%, it is indeed a concern that the best may not choose teaching as a profession. This would be quite unfortunate because teacher ability has been linked to student ability in various studies. This post examines trends in teacher ability.