The Supply and Demand of Education (Re-Write)

Klein, Joel. "The Failure of American Schools." The Atlantic. The Atlantic Monthly Group, June 2011. Web. 28 August 2012.

From, “The Failure of American Schools” Joel Klein states, “But when you’re short of qualified math teachers-as virtually every major urban school district is-poor kids with the greatest needs invariably get cheated, because most teachers prefer to teach highly motivated kids who live in safe communities, and whose parents will contribute private money to the school”. Klein’s point is to argue how the money for education is not being used properly and the reasons that there are these debts. As a result, he compares the difference between a physical education teacher and a math teacher and why there pay should not be the same. A mathematician can find a more rewarding job elsewhere other than teaching and that is eventually what happens and causes these shortages of math teachers in urban areas. Therefore, the handful of math teachers that are available will choose to work in better communities for their own interest. Klein refers this to, “simple supply and demand”.

We as a society need to think about this because, what if we got an education and studied to be a mathematician and didn't get in return what we deserved? Or if a teacher is not able to work in a community that is in the best interest for themselves? These issues are eventually turning educators against the education system, and because of this people need to understand how something like this is putting a strain on the education system that could eventually ruin it. Not only are these debts and unfair pay within the education system happening in this generation but they will also continue to be a re-occurrence if they do not end. Everyone works hard to receive an outcome and these teachers are the same way they have worked hard to get an education so that they can not only get what they deserve but so that they can also teach their knowledge to others. Klein simply wants us to understand the impact that the education system has on everyone, and that he does not have to be the only one to stand up for it so can everyone else.