Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 12, 2007 - 19:15.
In my third year as an urban school teacher, (special education), I have come to realize many things. First, I have a much greater respect for talented educators. It is a tremendously challenging job with a huge learning curve that should be compensated accordingly. Yet I do not necessarily think higher pay for underperforming school's teachers is the answer. Good teachers stay because they are good teachers. Those who can't handle it find it intolerable and leave. But I would appreciate a school-wide bonus if we make improvements. School-wide incentives keep teachers from competing with one another. We are a team, and should be compensated as teams.
I also think that the best teachers in districts should be identified and given pay and/or release time to mentor other teachers. The concept of release time for service is used at universities, but I have never seen it used in elementary schools. Many new programs could be more easily implemented if teachers were given a structured incentive program and release time to help them develop ideas, like getting more technology integrated into the curriculum.
It takes a giant strength of character to handle the challenges of the poorest schools. During my first two years I experienced daily anxiety for the first time in my life, and felt thrown into a job requiring far more expertise than I had gained simply by going to graduate school and an intern program. There is no easy entry. You are expected to be fully skilled and up and running on day one. Totally unrealistic, especially given that you have no supplies, no budget, and no support, in most cases. In my building, we don't even have access to a copier. How absurd is that? The taxpayer's support for my profession is insulting after having spent many years in the well supplied private sector (in business). Even a little recognition would go a long way.
Advancing Our Schools
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 12, 2007 - 19:15.
In my third year as an urban school teacher, (special education), I have come to realize many things. First, I have a much greater respect for talented educators. It is a tremendously challenging job with a huge learning curve that should be compensated accordingly. Yet I do not necessarily think higher pay for underperforming school's teachers is the answer. Good teachers stay because they are good teachers. Those who can't handle it find it intolerable and leave. But I would appreciate a school-wide bonus if we make improvements. School-wide incentives keep teachers from competing with one another. We are a team, and should be compensated as teams.
I also think that the best teachers in districts should be identified and given pay and/or release time to mentor other teachers. The concept of release time for service is used at universities, but I have never seen it used in elementary schools. Many new programs could be more easily implemented if teachers were given a structured incentive program and release time to help them develop ideas, like getting more technology integrated into the curriculum.
It takes a giant strength of character to handle the challenges of the poorest schools. During my first two years I experienced daily anxiety for the first time in my life, and felt thrown into a job requiring far more expertise than I had gained simply by going to graduate school and an intern program. There is no easy entry. You are expected to be fully skilled and up and running on day one. Totally unrealistic, especially given that you have no supplies, no budget, and no support, in most cases. In my building, we don't even have access to a copier. How absurd is that? The taxpayer's support for my profession is insulting after having spent many years in the well supplied private sector (in business). Even a little recognition would go a long way.