Submitted by Leonard Isenberg (not verified) on September 18, 2007 - 13:17.
Like the military which offers the equivalent of merit pay in signing bonuses to meet its recruiting numbers,public education is now experiencing the same problem of keeping well-qualified teachers and proposes the same short-sighted solution.
In both cases there is an underlying and very relevant issue that is not being addressed: In Iraq it is an unpopular war based on deception and in public education it is not addressing unacceptable student behavior for fear of losing Average Daily Attendance compensation from the state and federal government.
One need only look at highly successful public schools to know that outrageous student conduct is not an issue, because it is not tolerated. While merit pay would be nice for a teacher like myself who has 20 years of experience and is at the top of the salary scale (nearly $80,000 and great medical benefits for 9 months work), I must confess that money is not my major concern. Rather it is an educational environment that must be present if I ever hope to succeed in teaching.
At present edspeak platitudes take the place of this substantive environment. Within 5 years, 50% of idealistic inner city teachers, throw in the towel and decide to do something else where they will not get punished for doing the right thing.
Merit Pay
Submitted by Leonard Isenberg (not verified) on September 18, 2007 - 13:17.
Like the military which offers the equivalent of merit pay in signing bonuses to meet its recruiting numbers,public education is now experiencing the same problem of keeping well-qualified teachers and proposes the same short-sighted solution.
In both cases there is an underlying and very relevant issue that is not being addressed: In Iraq it is an unpopular war based on deception and in public education it is not addressing unacceptable student behavior for fear of losing Average Daily Attendance compensation from the state and federal government.
One need only look at highly successful public schools to know that outrageous student conduct is not an issue, because it is not tolerated. While merit pay would be nice for a teacher like myself who has 20 years of experience and is at the top of the salary scale (nearly $80,000 and great medical benefits for 9 months work), I must confess that money is not my major concern. Rather it is an educational environment that must be present if I ever hope to succeed in teaching.
At present edspeak platitudes take the place of this substantive environment. Within 5 years, 50% of idealistic inner city teachers, throw in the towel and decide to do something else where they will not get punished for doing the right thing.