There has been a lot of talk/observation about merit pay in Ed Week in the last few issues, understandably because it's on the minds of so many school 'reformers.' While it is absolutely appropriate to ask if teachers are doing a good job, but thinking that this 'reform' alone will work is so short-sighted (and exactly what creates the problem).
Those who think this will fix the problems don't seem to want to roll up their sleeves & actually fix the problem. I doubt if any teacher wants to go into a school and fail. However, telling that teacher to do better isn't helpful. From my experience with employees failing, it's usually my fault for not giving them the right support. I don't mean support in a monetary way. It seems like teachers need support to be successful, and that means...mentor teachers, comprehensive evaluation reports, collaborative groups, teacher development, & humane ways of helping remove those few who just shouldn't be teachers, etc.
The GOP is the group usually associated with wanting merit pay. I know that they often have to contend with union issues, but for a group that claims to be fiscally conservative, throwing money at a the problem of failing schools seems like confusing policy. There has to be a way to work it out together - forget the parties & get to work!
Good point about the contradictions in the GOP philosophy as concerns merit pay.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree, telling the teacher to do better is not much different from telling them that they have not achieved the level they should on tests. Neither really advice in any specific way. I like the coaches we have at school and I love the music in services. I do not know about in services in general but the music one is very helpful to me. I just listen and steal all these experienced teachers ideas. The help they give is not theoretical it is very practical and useful. I have heard classroom teachers say that is one thing they really could use more of, practical and applicable lessons. However, they do need to be catered to the particular class which is where the coaches I believe could be very helpful.