divisive idea; there are so many other criteria that would seem to matter
more. In addition, the literature and NAIS resource sites offer many
thoughtful and sophisticated ways for schools to determine salary
structures and to reward special contributions.
In 1979 I was working at a boarding school that had suddenly hired a Farsi
specialist who would help us serve what turned out to be a mythical influx
of ultra-wealthy Iranian refugees. Rumor had it that he was making about
2.5 times what the rest of us were, and, despite the fact that he was a
very nice fellow, this did not make us love him more. The idea of
categories of compensation based on subject specialization (and who is
worth more, an English teacher or a Latin teacher, a physics teacher or a
second-grade classroom teacher?) makes me uncomfortable, despite any
economic arguments one could make regarding scarcity.
Of course I have been an English and history teacher, and we are led to
believe that we must be a dime a dozen.
Cheers--Peter Gow
Peter Gow, Director of College Counseling and Special Programs
Beaver Country Day School
791 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
www.bcdschool.org
Tel. 617-738-2755
FAX 617-738-2701
Webmaster: www.IndependentEducator.org
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