Merit Pay 3

My buddy POd says that I am worried about Merit Pay. Worried isn't exactly it.

I read a lot. I study all kinds of things (oh, the blessings of a liberal arts education and a curious mind). What I see is a lot of pie-in-the-sky promises that are unsustainable. I mean, we are going to make this a better place, and reward great things (when we all know it is so hard to measure those great things) but, oh, yeah, we are either going to have to lay off 5% of our staff or you'll have to take a 5% pay cut.

And how long will it take me to make that 5% back?

In the meantime, they will put more kids in my class, but I'll manage the discipline. They will expect me to teach without books, but they will but back on both the paper they give me and the amount of copies they let me make. Kids don't bring paper and pencil or write things down? I'll manage it somehow.

When businesses start down the road of major layoffs, they seem to fold in a few short years. The layoffs cut deep enough the companies bleed to death.

What happens when the schools bleed to death?

Merit Pay 2

Please read the posting before this one as well.

I sent a note to our local state senator (who shall remain nameless, not because he deserves it but because I do).

I said:

I teach.

I work very hard to teach math to juniors and seniors who are not particularly good at math.

They would never show as brilliant mathematicians, but they work hard as well.

Who do you think would want to teach this level of math if merit pay was in place?

He replied:
Thanks for your email. Thanks for all your hard work. I understand that the Gov's proposal would apply only to new teachers.


Um, excuse me? Because it will only happen to new teachers, that makes it right? I didn't address nincompoopery, assininess, or any of the 1000 other reasons this is a stupid idea, but you think because you can force this on to new teachers it's ok?

I love the general public who say "but everyone is graded like this - you get rewarded for your work." That's right, and I don't mind being rewarded for MY work. Or for work I have any control over.

But for me to be graded on, say, the senior who comes every tenth day (and has for 2 years) and cannot graduate in 6 weeks because he hasn't put in an effort, no thank you.

Merit pay

A student assaulted a teacher because the teacher wanted him to work.

Yep, merit pay is the way to go.

Merit Pay

If you have an account on Facebook, you might want to join this group.

Our governor, in his infinite wisdom, wants to tie our pay to the accomplishments of our students. I can see a mad rush to teach higher ability students and a rush away from teaching the lower level kids.

Of all of the things he has done to sabotage Georgia's schools, this is the worst idea yet.

Harvard has an interesting take on this. As does the AJC,which ties this, NCLB, and the recent testing scandal together nicely.