Fran Tarkenton (you remember him from the Vikes) is now a successful businessman and consultant to other businesses. He likens current “government” schools to what would happen if the NFL ran their business they way our schools are run.
“Imagine the NFL in an alternative reality. Each player’s salary is based on how long he’s been in the league. It’s about tenure, not talent. The same scale is used for every player, no matter whether he’s an all-pro quarterback or the worst player on the roster. For every year the player’s been in the NFL he gets a bump in pay. The only difference between Tom Brady and the worst player in the league is a few years of step increases in pay. And if a player makes it through his third season, he can never be cut from the roster.
“Let’s face the truth about this alternative reality. The on-field product of the NFL would steadily decline. Why bother playing harder and risk getting hurt? The only way to ‘make it better’ is to throw more money at the situation — bigger stadiums, bigger salaries, and none of that would work. There’s no incentive.
“If you haven’t figured it out yet, the NFL in this alternative reality is the real-life American education system. Teachers’ salaries have no relation to whether teachers are actually good at their jobs – excellence in not rewarded. Pay is determined solely by how many years you’re been teaching. And if you criticize the system, you’re demonized for hating teachers and not believing in our nation’s children.”
Good analogy, and thank goodness the teachers’ union hasn’t infiltrated the NFL.
Art Becker
Pillager
Comments (10)
Add commentFran missed the mark on one point....
And if a player makes it through his third season, he can never be cut from the roster.
This is an untrue statement if (as implied) you are referring to teacher's tenure. Tenured teachers can be fired just as any employee in any company can be fired. The problem is that firing someone in any situation is a tedious process if you don't want to get sued. There must be documentation of misconduct or failure to perform. There must be a performance plan. There must be written documents of discipline. Without these things in place, an employer can be sued for wrongful termination. The fact that management doesn't follow through with the documentation and plans needed to fire someone is not the fault of the employee or in this case, the teacher.
The same scale is used for every player, no matter whether he’s an all-pro quarterback or the worst player on the roster.
This is also untrue. I know teachers in our school district and there is not a one size fits all pay scale. Teachers with a BA degree are paid less than those with a PhD regardless of years of service. So basically, the more talented/educated have a better payscale. Just like the more talented players in the NFL....or "real life".
Nice try Fran and Art, but get the facts before making analogies.
Fran missed the mark on two points....
And if a player makes it through his third season, he can never be cut from the roster.
This is an untrue statement if (as implied) you are referring to teacher's tenure. Tenured teachers can be fired just as any employee in any company can be fired. The problem is that firing someone in any situation is a tedious process if you don't want to get sued. There must be documentation of misconduct or failure to perform. There must be a performance plan. There must be written documents of discipline. Without these things in place, an employer can be sued for wrongful termination. The fact that management doesn't follow through with the documentation and plans needed to fire someone is not the fault of the employee or in this case, the teacher.
The same scale is used for every player, no matter whether he’s an all-pro quarterback or the worst player on the roster.
This is also untrue. I know teachers in our school district and there is not a one size fits all pay scale. Teachers with a BA degree are paid less than those with a PhD regardless of years of service. So basically, the more talented/educated have a better payscale. Just like the more talented players in the NFL....or "real life".
Nice try Fran and Art, but get the facts before making analogies.
At
At least we all know what you do for a living now, Okey.
I will assert that academic
I will assert that academic degrees have virtually nothing to do with competence or classroom performance and should not be used in place of merit when setting pay scales.
The NFL does not give a player an automatic raise if he gets his GED. But if he can run, kick, throw and catch----well, you get the idea.
what if
So if we should treat the schools like the NFL or any other pro sports team, don't they always fire the coach and the GM first. Don't they find that easier than turning over the full roster. I suppose the buyouts on the superintendents and the principles are too high for that.
Teachers and NFL players
I would like to continue the Pillager letter writer’s comparison of teachers to NFL players.
The average teacher salary would be 1.1 million. The teacher would sign their first contract and immediately receive a signing bonus. (Brainerd has had a 3 year pay scale freeze) There would be no connection between education and salary. The teacher could begin work after their first year of college with no further education ever. The public would be highly supportive and build billion dollar stadiums to keep teachers in their state. All schools older than the Metrodome would be torn down and rebuilt. (That would be all schools but Forestview in Brainerd)
What a fantasy.
Instead our profession gets a steady barrage of negativity from our local citizens published by our local paper.
Taking my career average salary it would take 25 years to make what an NFL player averages in one year.
It would take 19.48 years to make Adrian Peterson’s salary for a single game.
Michael Vick makes 3 times my yearly salary for each minute he plays in an NFL game even after my Masters Degree and 17 years experience.
It would take 591 years of teaching to make Peyton Manning’s signing bonus for this year.
So yeah, if I started teaching 73 years before Columbus arrived in America, my career would be comparable to an NFL player.
Bryan Barber
5th grade teacher
So the question is Bryan,
So the question is Bryan, When you do get a raise is it based on performance or is it an across the board % for all teachers? If your class all scores higher on testing then the state and national levels do you get a bigger raise? The analogy above wasnt about how much teachers and players get paid but what they have to do to get what they earn. Peyton Manning recieves more money then a journeyman QB that has been in the league just as long. Now I bet the pay you recieve it pretty close to the same as another 5th grade teacher with the same amount of years teaching and education. I agree teachers do get a steady barrage of negativity in these forums, but they dont get death threats if they miss a field goal.
rockin rebuttal in today's paper on this one
I urge everyone to read it.
rubbyk
"The analogy above wasn't about how much teachers and players get paid but what they have to do to get what they earn."
"....but they don't get death threats if they miss a field goal."
The fact that kicking a ball or throwing a touchdown is worth millions in our society while teaching our nation's children is constantly under attack is ridiculous....regardless of the death threats. While teachers may not receive death threats often (but it has been known to happen) there are other professions that live in the face of true danger everyday (police officers, fireman, etc) without the millions to hire personal bodyguards. When was the last NFL player shot "in the line of duty"?
lizlemon
To play in the NFL you HAVE to be the best of the best, to earn more money in the NFL you have to be better then the best . Can you say the same thing about teachers,firefighters, and the police, do we have the best of the best teaching our children, if a teacher isnt producing a good product are they traded or when their contract is up just not resigned. Now saying this I do not think ALL teachers are bad, no, if fact I believe most of them are great at what they do, but the key word here is most ,and the few that are average or below keep doing their job and getting the same % raise as the great ones. Teachers, police, firefighters and NFL players all know what kind of money is to be earned in their proffessions when they chose it.