U.S. Sec. of Ed: Teachers should be paid $60,000 to $150,000 per year

Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, turned a few heads July 29 in public remarks in which he called for teachers to be paid $60,000 as a starting salary.

Duncan made the comments at the conference of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, reports Education Week. Those remarks come at a time when teachers in Michigan say they are under attack by the Republican controlled state legislature.

Duncan paired his remarks with a call to change the way education is delivered in America, according to prepared remarks:

“We must think radically differently,” he said, according to prepared remarks. “We must ask and answer hard questions on topics that have been off limits in the past like staffing practices and school organization, benefits packages and job security—because the answers may give us more realistic ways to afford these new professional conditions.”

“And it will cost money—and—given the current political climate with the nation wrestling with debt and deficits—I am sure some people will immediately say that we can’t afford it without even looking at how to redirect the money we are already spending—and mis-spending.”

Kyle Feldscher at AnnArbor.com notes that the lowest starting salary at Ann Arbor Public Schools is $39,540.

Duncan also called on colleges and universities to raise their standards for students entering their education training programs.