This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

My wife, Cathy, is in her 39th year teaching in the Salt Lake City School District. She is certified to teach resource and kindergarten through 6th grade. Her education consists of a bachelor's degree, a teaching certificate, a masters degree, an ESL certification and an ESL reading certification. Other certifications fill an office cabinet drawer in our basement, and this is not special when compared to her workmates and to countless other teachers throughout the state.

Yet, when compared to other professions, with the same amount of education and time on job, Utah educators' salary steps at all levels lag far behind what is normal and reasonable. In the last four decades, Cathy has seen a steady climb in the number of new and experienced teachers who have left the classroom for other pursuits.

Unfortunately it is doubtful that our state legislators will ever adapt educational funding to address the noncompetitive nature of the salary steps. History demonstrates that their fundamental beliefs overshadow their ability to recognize the long-term consequences of their actions: more teachers leaving and fewer college students training to enter the field of teaching. At the same time, we the electorate, seem to be unwilling to accept our responsibility for the actions of our legislators.

Jim Rosenbury

Sandy