From a purely socio-political aspect, I actually do not think teachers and physicians should have equal pay, not in the Swedish system at least. A physician has 5.5 years of university education + 18 months intership with very low salary (to get the licence), and come out with student's loans of about $350000, whereas a teacher has 3-4 years of uni education and consequently less loans. I think the proportion between the two professions are about right in Sweden, teacher earns aout 2/3 of a physician. Clinical psychologists have about the same salary as a teacher, and they have 5 years at uni + 12 months internship.Originally posted by Gruntboy
Good points, though I was making socio-political comments, as opposed to particular issues of educating a child myself.
A difference between docs and shrinks in Sweden and teachers, are that teachers can't really raise their pay by choosing to work for the industry or as consultants. IMO all three professions need a raise compared to most other professions. But the most unfairly low-paid group in Sweden, are the natural scientists, like mathematicians, chemists and physicists working with research at universitites rather than in the industry. Those people are even less paid than we are in medical research. My brother in law for instance is an MSc in chemistry, he is doing his PhD on DNA, trying to develop a method that can be used in new drugs for a number of major diseases. He earns about the same as the kids working at McDonalds
So education doesn't pay of in the UK either?Underground drivers and policemen after 6 weeks of training earning more than me.
