Michael Zwaagstra: Solve Teacher Shortage by Paying Some Teachers More Money

Commentary Many Canadian school districts are facing a teacher shortage, particularly in rural and northern parts of the country. When there aren’t enough certified teachers available, school administrators have little choice but to fill classrooms with adults who have no expertise in the subject matter being taught. Using unqualified teachers is a bad idea because it shortchanges students. Teacher union leaders have raised the alarm about teacher shortages, and understandably they predict the situation will get worse if nothing is done. However, they typically focus on only one solution—paying all teachers more. But this approach fails to account for basic economics, including the concept of supply and demand. In a free-market economy, prices increase when demand is high and supply is low, and decrease when the reverse is true. It’s the reason grocery stores charge more for prime rib than for dry beans and why heart surgeons get paid more than hairdressers....