Accidental state senator and soon-to-be forgotten gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis has demonstrated she knows even less about basic economics than her abysmal senatorial record would indicate. And that’s saying something. Her latest trick: destroying education and the teaching profession.
In Wendy’s World, Texas is suffering from a teacher shortage. That’s demonstrably untrue; we have lots of teachers — the problem is not enough qualified teachers willing to work in the classrooms and engage with students. We have thousands of teachers who have exited the profession in favor of being everything from stock brokers to stay-at-home moms (and those are just the ones in my family).
Set aside trifling facts like that, and let’s look at Sen. Davis’ solution. She wants to guarantee admission to college for anyone saying they will be a teacher, and then guarantee them a job when they graduate.
She was apparently off bilking the taxpayers the day economics was taught.
Prices — including salaries, even for teachers — derives from the most basic market function: supply and demand. When you have more of something, prices go down; less of something, prices go up. Meanwhile, her “guarantee” of college seats and paychecks will pull the dregs of academia into the teaching profession.
Can’t get into college, but you really want the whole college party experience? Just say you’ll be a teacher; don’t worry, you can just sleep in the back of the class and watch cartoons!
A guarantee of college entry followed by a guarantee of a job will ensure two things: reduced salaries for good teachers and reduced quality for all students.
Excellent teachers should be offended by Davis’ proposal to flood the profession. With a high volume of “teachers,” salaries are sure to fall. Parents should be even more offended by the guaranteed decline in academic outcomes that are sure to follow.
Fortunately, we really don’t have to worry about it; Texas isn’t in danger of Wendy Davis being elected governor. But it does say something sad about the economically vacuous nature of the Democratic Party’s “best and brightest.”
Wendy Davis’ entire campaign is the guarantee of only one job: Greg Abbott as governor.
