We usually reach the pinnacle of our professional achievement in our fifties and sixties. Racial and gender legal and socio-cultural barriers started falling in the 1960s. The pipeline is now filling.
Agreed, both important. But pre-K early education opportunities were virtually nonexistent when we were toddlers and it worked out. I'm all for it, but the need for public pre-K might be more of a symptom of larger issues. Same with home support. I also wrote last Fall in the context of the affordable housing shortage that a major piece of this stems from the substantial increase in single parent households. That's a double-whammy: single parents who therefore need childcare so they can work and, at the same time, are faced with less income than would a two-parent household.
Good column. Pipelines are geographic too. The journalism field is a good example. In some regions and sectors, the diversity pipeline has been filled. In other regions and sectors, the pipeline is traditional with women and people of color merely tokens. Not only has the pipeline not been filled but it is closed with a big tight manhole cover.
Good column. I agree with Sue’s take on equity. But there’s a definitional problem similar to that of using the word discrimination which has multiple meanings. (Might differentiate be a better way to frame your grading choices?) To some advocates, especially in health care, equity of outcomes is the desirable approach, whereas I (and possibly you) take a broader view that equity means eliminating barriers to opportunity and providing a range of potential remedies. This would involve an array of policy choices to support families whether single or two parent homes).
One other aspect that you might consider is how society values (i.e., compensates) certain professions as shaping gender (and possibly the racial) balance. For example, I had many male teachers in junior and senior high school because they could support a family on a high school salary. Now, that seems difficult at best, resulting in the imbalance you note.
The value society writ large places on certain occupations is certainly an overwhelming issue, not often addressed. I will take issue with your specific example, however. I recall complaints about teachers being poorly paid way back. In 1969, as a junior high teacher for a semester, I think my pay--with a master's degree--was $5500--about $48,000 today. I know that teachers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, LA and similar start higher and have greater average compensation than in the 1960s. And, remember, that's for nine months of work.
Good points. I will admit that my observation is based on anecdotal data, not empirically based. No question that some school districts pay more now relative to the 1960s, but overall we underpay the people who pay a major role in providing the knowledge basis to be an informed and productive citizen Did you mean $5500 for the full year (probably $5000 for a non-masters degree teaching position)?
Sounds good. Even with the possibility of some summer money, that's not a lot for a family of four. The equivalent average household income for 2023 ($48,000 in your calculation) would be at the low end of what's needed.
A+ on this one Ben. But for me the equity problem roots lie deeper — in early education opportunities and home support.
Agreed, both important. But pre-K early education opportunities were virtually nonexistent when we were toddlers and it worked out. I'm all for it, but the need for public pre-K might be more of a symptom of larger issues. Same with home support. I also wrote last Fall in the context of the affordable housing shortage that a major piece of this stems from the substantial increase in single parent households. That's a double-whammy: single parents who therefore need childcare so they can work and, at the same time, are faced with less income than would a two-parent household.
Good column. Pipelines are geographic too. The journalism field is a good example. In some regions and sectors, the diversity pipeline has been filled. In other regions and sectors, the pipeline is traditional with women and people of color merely tokens. Not only has the pipeline not been filled but it is closed with a big tight manhole cover.
Good column. I agree with Sue’s take on equity. But there’s a definitional problem similar to that of using the word discrimination which has multiple meanings. (Might differentiate be a better way to frame your grading choices?) To some advocates, especially in health care, equity of outcomes is the desirable approach, whereas I (and possibly you) take a broader view that equity means eliminating barriers to opportunity and providing a range of potential remedies. This would involve an array of policy choices to support families whether single or two parent homes).
One other aspect that you might consider is how society values (i.e., compensates) certain professions as shaping gender (and possibly the racial) balance. For example, I had many male teachers in junior and senior high school because they could support a family on a high school salary. Now, that seems difficult at best, resulting in the imbalance you note.
The value society writ large places on certain occupations is certainly an overwhelming issue, not often addressed. I will take issue with your specific example, however. I recall complaints about teachers being poorly paid way back. In 1969, as a junior high teacher for a semester, I think my pay--with a master's degree--was $5500--about $48,000 today. I know that teachers in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, LA and similar start higher and have greater average compensation than in the 1960s. And, remember, that's for nine months of work.
Good points. I will admit that my observation is based on anecdotal data, not empirically based. No question that some school districts pay more now relative to the 1960s, but overall we underpay the people who pay a major role in providing the knowledge basis to be an informed and productive citizen Did you mean $5500 for the full year (probably $5000 for a non-masters degree teaching position)?
Yes, the annual rate of $5500, so I earned half that for the semester. And bachelors' degree likely less.
Sounds good. Even with the possibility of some summer money, that's not a lot for a family of four. The equivalent average household income for 2023 ($48,000 in your calculation) would be at the low end of what's needed.