[AvocadoPanic]

What's the advantage to having the best and brightest teachers if they're in a room of average and dim students?

Both teachers and students should be tracked by ability. Best teachers for the best students. Mid teachers for mid students.

[bobthepanda]

that assumes that average and dim are constants and unchangeable. but the point remains is that we're not even getting the best teachers to begin with, because the job is so unattractive if it's not your passion.

[AvocadoPanic]

Average and dim usually seem pretty fixed by adulthood.

Were teachers better in previous generations? I remember the majority of mine being excellent. Might it be more unattractive now than 30 - 40 years ago?

[bobthepanda]

People are not going into the public school system during adulthood.

Inflation-adjusted average teachers salaries have fallen over the past decade, and starting salaries are at the lowest levels measured: https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/average-teac...

A lot of teachers in the US now work two jobs to make ends meet, which is a recipe for disaster.

[AvocadoPanic]

No they don't enter public school during adulthood, but if none of the interventions move the needle by the time their adults, what's the point?

Have inflation-adjusted salaries for other industries? They're not great either. Look at average attorney starting salaries.

[vorpalhex]

The best students may actually be fine with no teacher or a very hands off method.

The students struggling the most may require the best teacher (and useful administration).

[AvocadoPanic]

Because that's the system that built the modern world?

Send the best and brightest to thow themselves against the dull and dim because the best students will be fine with no teacher.

The best and brightest should be challenged and pushed to excel at academicly rigorous programs. The dim and dull should managed through a course of study that has more achievable standards.