[ RadSafe ] Re: The good news about nuclear destruction

[Dan W McCarn]

Hi -

I've been observing during this discussion, that nothing has been said about
the quality of teaching for schools.  It is my observation that (at least
for New Mexico) the starting salary of an engineer is three times that of a
teacher.  In fact, a teacher's salary is so low that they generally cannot
meet the minimum requirements to obtain a mortgage to buy a home.

So, is it that the material (calculus, physics, chemistry) is not being
taught effectively by poorly paid teachers, or that students are looking
elsewhere for effective role-models? There is no financial incentive for a
highly qualified individual to teach because they can certainly find more
financial reward and probably intellectual reward in the industry.

So, I offer Clayton's words re-written: If scientists were compensated at a
level comparable to teachers, either no-one would become a scientist, or the
teachers' salaries would significantly increase.

But as a side note, I don't find that many kids seeking their futures as
sports or rock music heroes.  In fact, most of the kids that I know are
headed for university.

Dan ii

Dan W McCarn
Houston & Albuquerque

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl [mailto:radsafe-bounces at radlab.nl] On Behalf
Of Clayton J Bradt
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 2:35 PM
To: radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Re: The good news about nuclear destruction


J. Marshall Reber wrote:

"Indeed, pupils in many secondary schools in the USA , especially boys,
would
rather become sports heros or rock stars than scientists."
***********************************************

If scientists were compensated at a level comparable to sports heroes and
rock stars, more kids would aspire to be scientists.  Don't blame the kids
for accurately gauging the value of a technical education.  For instance,
does anyone believe that the tech industry's clamor for more special work
visas for "highly skilled" foreign workers, is the result of a lack of
American workers with the needed skills?  Or is it more likely the lack of
skilled Americans willing to work for the low wages being offered?

Clayton J. Bradt
dutchbradt at hughes.net