Reply #39: The current model is based on reality, though.

[knitter4democracy]

In your model, art teachers would get paid the least, since they would get paid little if they were full-time artists and the market, therefore, says they aren't worth much. Same with band and choir teachers, Latin teachers, and the history teachers you referred to upthread. Just because the free market says they are a dime a dozen, easily replaceable, and not worth much to the business world, does that mean we have to agree with it?