Teaching aspires to become a profession, yet it faces two daunting obstacles. First, public school teachers cling to unprofessional salary schedules and terms of employment that make it impossible to pay them based on their performance and market demand. Second, the unions that bargain these terms are modeled not on professional associations, but…

Argues that if one considers fringe and retirement benefits and the number of hours worked during the year, teachers are not underpaid relative to other professions. Teachers are well paid because of union influence and to compensate them for working in unpleasant environments. Calls for more use of vouchers and more charter schools to reduce…