TOOLS OF THE TRADE

A recent survey shows that Michigan public school teachers spend on average $466 a year from their own personal funds on books and supplies they need in the classroom.  Reaction to this fact from the usual suspects suggests that this is a bad thing.  It's not.

Margaret Trimer-Hartley, spokesman for the Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, complains, "Professionals ought to be given the tools to do their jobs and not be expected to dip into their own pockets for such basics."  Rhetorically she asked, "Are we asking lawyers and accountants and other professionals to provide their own paper and pencils and typewriters?"

Well, yes, Margaret, we do expect these professionals to provide for themselves those things.  Just like we expect carpenters to own their hammers, machinists their micrometers, and plumbers their wrenches.  The taxpayers of Michigan are not stingy in the salaries and benefits they pay public school teachers.  So it's not unreasonable for them to do the same as the rest of us and pay for at least some of the tools of their trade.