Why not bite the bullet and have a Federal initiative to pay teachers more — maybe even specifically math and science teachers more — rather than the backwards “tax break” approach?

To me the problem with the tax break approach is that it seem like the foot in the door to hoards of professions asking for similar exemptions. Police, fire fighters, doctors, nurses, private school teachers (aren’t they teachers too?), child care workers…

And they all really are deserving of support, but I’m not sure the Federal tax code is the way to do it.

Let’s hope not.

Massachusetts, always the educational trendsetter, frees all retired teachers from state income tax. So with state income tax, pension contributions, and union dues not being taken out of our checks upon retirement, our monthly checks almost amount to something. It’s really a pretty good deal. I hope other sates do the same for their retired teachers.

Even though he mentions early on in his piece that his wife is a public schoolteacher in Maryland I hardly believe he compromises himself at all with his proposal. I doubt if the additional income in the Friedman household would be needed.

I like his idea, a lot.