Superman And Magic Bullets

We're probably not going to give you any answers today you didn't already know. But we may generate a few questions - for you and for us - by the time we're done.

That tends to happen when we discuss a subject that we're all heavily invested in, like education.

The documentary film "Waiting for Superman" was recently released on DVD and we recommend you see it, if you haven't already. While we don’t agree with everything this film says about education in America, we agree fully with its general idea: that America needs to do something to improve its educational system, right away.

Unfortunately, in the ongoing race to the bottom in state and local budgeting, many folks remain myopically focused on teachers' unions as a drain on state and local budgets. They never seem to look to those in schools who eat up a far greater share of educational budgets - namely, the administrators and their fat salary and compensation packages.

The Omaha World Herald began a short series last weekend on school administrators  – or to use their term, "school CEOs" - throughout Nebraska. If Nebraska voters think they're getting worked over on paying for teachers, we're willing to bet their eyes popped out of their heads when they saw what Nebraska school administrators are earning.

It isn't just a Nebraska issue, however.

From California to New York, and everywhere in-between, school administrators often earn some shockingly large pay and benefit packages these days.

We're not saying what many anti-administrator/pro-teacher advocates do. That is, that administrators don't do nearly the level or intensity of work that their paychecks would make you believe they should earn. Just as there are great teachers who should be paid more, and lousy teachers who should be paid less (or simply not teach), there are many kinds of administrators as well. Some of them do work that could never be paid highly enough, wearing more hats than a hat rack, and often in districts we'd never want to teach in or even live in.

Of all the things "Waiting for Superman" teaches those who watch it, one of the most important takeaway lessons should be that there is no magic bullet, no one solution that will fix all problems.

For example, there is a school in St. Paul, Minnesota that has NO administrators, and it works fine - for them. There are schools with multiple Principals, and some of those work well too.

What doesn't work, though, is the fact that as states and cities try to cut their budgets - too often by demonizing and firing front-line professionals in the classroom - many of those same districts continue to turn a blind eye to the comparatively ridiculous salary and benefit packages they provide some of their administrators.

One look at the administrator salary and benefits list, when compared to the average salaries and benefits of Nebraska teachers, should tell even the most fervent school administration supporters that something is weighing the system down - and it isn't pay and benefits for teachers, union or no union.

If politicians and school administrators are going to be honest about their budget homework, they need to consider ALL the variables in the problems that confront them. If they refuse to do so, they'll just be spinning their oars. Meanwhile, education in America will continue to be up the creek, without a paddle.