Item: Teacher raises raise eyebrows: Report shows 44 percent of Idaho teachers received raises this year; Luna decries pay increases during downturn/Ben Botkin, Twin Falls Times-News
 
More Info: The Idaho State Department of Education report shows that 37.4 percent of administrative employees have increased salaries this year, while 44.2 percent of teachers across the state are earning more. This comes as state agencies are freezing salaries and assessing furlough days to employees in efforts to offset declining revenues. “Quite frankly, I was surprised when I saw this,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said in a statement. “In this economic situation, I don’t know how anyone can justify giving anyone a raise. This is $22 million in pay increases that could have been used to preserve successful classroom programs.”

Question: An argument can be made that Idaho teachers deserve raises because they are among the poorest paid in the country? Would you buy that argument?