The schoolteacher as “economic man”

Montaigne contended that profit of one man is the loss of and that merchant thrives by the extravagance of youth; the husbandman by the of corn; the architect by the ruin of houses; the lawyer by lawsuits and controversies between men. Some centuries later Adam Smith pointed out that workingmen are generally far from happy with a situation which some people would characterize as a pleasing plenitude of labor. Scotsman put it this way: The scarcity of hands occasions a competition among masters, who bid against one another, in order to get workmen, and thus voluntarily break through the natural combination of masters not to raise wages. point here is that the schoolteacher in a society where the contentions of Montaigne and Smith still have force must necessarily view the much heralded shortage of with somewhat ambivalent emotions. altruistic and generally interested side of the teacher will deplore the inadequate instruction this may mean for the younger generation and be genuinely concerned about the meaning of this to our world position and to our democratic ethos and system. However, the economic calculator part of the teacher will surely look upon the as a possible benefit to him personally; to imitate Smith: The of teachers occasions a competition among school boards and superintendents, who bid against one another, in order to get teachers

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• Homo Economicus at School

  Dennis Attick•Educational Studies•2016

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