(Newser) – Teacher pay shouldn't be increased, an Alabama lawmaker explained at a prayer breakfast this week, because the Bible says so. "If you double what you're paying education, you know what's going to happen?" asked state Sen. Shadrack McGill. "I've heard the comment many times, 'Well, the quality of education's going to go up.' That's never proven to happen, guys. It's a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher's pay scale, you'll attract people who aren't called to teach. And these teachers that are called to teach, regardless of the pay scale, they would teach. It's the ability that God give 'em."

He continued, "To go in and raise someone's child for eight hours a day, or many people's children for eight hours a day, requires a calling. It better be a calling in your life. I know I wouldn't want to do it, OK?" Interestingly, McGill had earlier defended a 62% pay raise for lawmakers passed in 2007, the Times-Journal reports. The Bible, it seems does approve of pay raises for legislators, because they need to make enough money that they "can say no, in regards to temptation" and not be swayed by lobbyists into taking bribes. (Read more teacher stories.)

