The study finds that the result has been a rapidly growing cost burden, but without any real gains in student performance (click above link for charts).
If you graduated from high school in 1980, your entire k-12 education cost your fellow taxpayers about $75,000, in 2009 dollars. But the graduating class of 2009 had roughly twice that amount lavished on their public school careers. The extra $75,000 we’re now spending has done wonders for public school employee union membership, dues revenue, and political clout. It’s done a whole lotta nothin’ for student learning.
The Big Government blogger blames teachers' unions for the outrageous growth. I suspect that it has more to do with real needs. I assume that Title IX would have resulted in thousands of coaches being hired for newly created girls athletic teams. It also probably reflects the hiring of teachers who are specially trained to teach special education (an ever-growing need), and ESL teachers due to the influx of non-English speaking students. Add guidance counselors, and in-school psychologists into the mix, and you're looking at some serious staffing needs.
Also keep in mind that a growing percentage of public school students come from impoverished backgrounds. During the 2007-2008 school year, 42.9 percent of public school children were eligible for free/reduced lunch. It's an unfortunate truth that these children need more care and attention due to behavioral problems, malnutrition, and lack of parental involvement. That logically creates a need to hire aides for teachers.
So I don't agree with this blogger's supposition that there is some cabal among teachers' unions to bloat the public school payroll. Public education is vastly different today versus 1970. The challenges faced by teachers today are far greater and they need resources comparable to those challenges.
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