State Senator Says Low Teacher Pay Is ‘A Bibilical Principle

DoctorE · #1 by **DoctorE** » Feb 02, 2012 10:04 pm

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (CBS Atlanta) – An Alabama state senator says that keeping teacher salaries low is “a biblical principle.”

Alabama State Sen. Shadrack McGill was quoted as saying that if the average teacher salary were to increase, more unqualified persons would be attracted to the vocation.

According to the Dekalb County Times-Journal, McGill, R-Woodville, made the comments at a prayer breakfast in Fort Payne.

“It’s a Biblical principle,” she said, according to the Times-Journal. “If you double a teacher’s pay scale, you’ll attract people who aren’t called to teach.”

McGill added that the job requires certain innate abilities, and that if teachers were paid more, those without such ingrained skills would be more inclined to try and fill the roles.

“To go in and raise someone’s child for eight hours a day, or many people’s children for eight hours a day, requires a calling,” she said, according to the Times-Journal. “It better be a calling in your life. I know I wouldn’t want to do it, OK?”

Continues: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2012/02/02/ ... principle/

CdesignProponentsist · #2 by **CdesignProponentsist** » Feb 02, 2012 10:07 pm

What does the Bible say about Senatorial pay?

Pulsar · #3 by **Pulsar** » Feb 02, 2012 10:18 pm

CdesignProponentsist wrote:What does the Bible say about Senatorial pay?

As the salary increases, more unqualified persons are attracted to the vocation. As Sen. Shadrack McGill aptly demonstrates.

chairman bill · #4 by **chairman bill** » Feb 02, 2012 10:26 pm

Isn't using 'biblical principles' to determine education policy a violation of the concept of seperation of church & state? Surely as an aspect of practice in the public realm, non-religious people should be able to become teachers without having 'biblical principles' imposed upon them in terms of pay policy.

Wiðercora · #5 by **Wiðercora** » Feb 02, 2012 10:31 pm

I'm not entirely sure that the Bible has a chapter on labour legislation. But apparantly it talks at great length on stem cell research so who knows?

j.mills · #6 by **j.mills** » Feb 02, 2012 10:41 pm

McGill added that the job requires certain innate abilities, and that if teachers were paid more, those without such ingrained skills would be more inclined to try and fill the roles.

Taking this at face value ( *cough* ), this is why you have a recruitment process through which you choose the best candidate. Or in fewer words: wot a dick.

Paul G · #7 by **Paul G** » Feb 02, 2012 10:43 pm

He'll apply the reverse logic when it comes to CEO pay, you watch.

Sonoran Lion · #8 by **Sonoran Lion** » Feb 02, 2012 10:49 pm

This sounds rather stupid. If pay is low, not only are unqualified people less attracted to the position, but so are the more qualified people less attracted to the position. I would think this would work against what the senator wants as the less qualified or less experienced may be more likely to take positions that pay less while the more qualified or more experienced may be more likely to hold out for a higher paying position elsewhere.

willhud9 · #9 by **willhud9** » Feb 02, 2012 10:55 pm

Wow. He equates the spiritual gift of teaching with the profession of teaching. What an idiot.

MoonLit · **#10** by **MoonLit** » Feb 02, 2012 11:06 pm

“It’s a Biblical principle,” she said, according to the Times-Journal. “If you double a teacher’s pay scale, you’ll attract people who aren’t called to teach.”

.. The fuck? NO ONE is "called" to do anything, let a lone teach.

Ugh, another moronic Senator. Really not surprised anymore.

ramseyoptom · **#11** by **ramseyoptom** » Feb 02, 2012 11:19 pm

Hope the next time he says that is at an NUT conference. (Yes I Known he's a Yank but we Brits like bloodsports!)

Stormcrow · **#12** by **Stormcrow** » Feb 02, 2012 11:24 pm

Conservative does not understand law of supply and demand in no-one is shocked shocker. News at 11.

I bet he believes in Supply-Side economics, too. His memory hole must be so wide, I'm surprised he has room for any brain matter.

johnbrandt · **#13** by **johnbrandt** » Feb 03, 2012 12:02 am

But...those people "attracted by the higher rate of pay" would, I assume, still have to have gone through learning how to become teachers for some years at university, and would still have to actually want to do the job in the first place. You can't just wal in unskilled off the street.
No amount of money would make me want to take on the responsability of a classroom full of kids.

It's funny because this is the exact opposite of the reasoning for increases in politicians salaries here in Oz...and I assume in the USA as well..."if we offer more money we attract a better standard of people" they say... :roll:

Peter Brown · **#14** by **Peter Brown** » Feb 03, 2012 2:12 pm

As usual the so called Christians get it WRONG again. The OT says you should pay a worker what they are worth for their labour, and in the NT a letter allegedly written by St Paul alludes to the OT and in the case of priests say pay them for their labour.

Truth is we never paid the workers who are the oil to the working of society what they are worth. Instead we pay those who aren’t much use incredible amounts.

Peter Brown · **#15** by **Peter Brown** » Feb 03, 2012 2:18 pm

MoonLit wrote:
“It’s a Biblical principle,” she said, according to the Times-Journal. “If you double a teacher’s pay scale, you’ll attract people who aren’t called to teach.”

.. The fuck? NO ONE is "called" to do anything, let a lone teach.

Ugh, another moronic Senator. Really not surprised anymore.

Well in the OT/NT there is the principle of being vocationally called, and if so called, god would facilitate you getting that work. But it is also said in that religion, pay them what they are worth!

Proof of god in action would be god telling several republican hopefuls to run for the office of President, and none of them getting the votes. No calling (from god), no job, no wage, get out of here; religion in action?