The Gospel According to Shadrack

According to Alabama state Sen. Shadrack McGill, the reason teacher pay is so low is because god wants it that way.

McGill says increasing teacher pay is against "a biblical principle" because it might attract people who otherwise wouldn't do the job.

"Teachers need to make the money that they need to make," McGill said, "If you double a teacher's pay scale, you'll attract people who aren't called to teach ... and these teachers that are called to teach, regardless of the pay scale, they would teach. It's just in them to do. It's the ability that God give 'em."

McGill's comments came at a prayer breakfast in Fort Payne, Ala. State legislators are currently weighing raising teacher pay.

But Sen. Shadrack had no problem defending a pay raise his predecessors in the Legislature passed, but said doubling teacher pay could lead to less-qualified educators.

Lawmakers entered the 2007 legislative session making $30,710 a year, a rate that had not been changed in 16 years. The raise increased it to $49,500 annually. Because paying politicians more -- is a way to keep them honest.

 According to the Gospel of Shadrack;

"That played into the corruption, guys, big time," he said. "You had your higher-ranking legislators that were connected with the lobbyists making up in the millions of dollars. They weren't worried about that $30,000 paid salary they were getting," McGill said, adding that lawmakers have to pay for their expenses out of pocket. ( kind of like teachers do?)

The logic, according to the Gospel of Shadrack;

McGill said that by paying legislators more, they're less susceptible to taking bribes.

"He needs to make enough that he can say no, in regards to temptation. ... Teachers need to make the money that they need to make. There needs to be a balance there. If you double what you're paying education, you know what's going to happen? I've heard the comment many times, ‘Well, the quality of education's going to go up...but that isn't what happens, guys."

The calling, according to the Gospel of Shadrack;

"If you don't keep that in balance, you're going to attract people who are not called, who don't need to be teaching our children. So, everything has a balance."

Maybe Shadrack has something here.

The Gospel according to ickenittle -- applied to politicians and corporate CEO's;



Where's the part about teacher's pay?

The quality of politicians and corporate CEO's will not go up when you raise their pay.

In fact lowering the pay of all politicians will attract those more in sync with Jesus.

This also goes for those working in the financial institutions like Wall Street and the too-big-to-fail banks.

And don't forget about Congress........

Amen

ickenittle