From Pat Head:
"What is wrong with evaluations? What is wrong with setting goals? Just coming to work for 20 years does not make you a good teacher. It makes you loyal - but not good.
"And just because you have the word Masters after your name or Doctor before doesn't make you a good teacher either. In fact, I'm tired of my kids teachers rushing off to class right after school. "Some of the most cerebral yet worthless teachers I had were doctors. I'm not saying pursuing higher education shouldn't be a goal. The teachers just shouldn't get paid more just because they have it!"
From a Cobb teacher:
"I am an educator in my 7th year teaching in Cobb County. Moving from Michigan after graduating college, the scene in Georgia is all too familiar. My wife is also a teacher who is very passionate and amazing at her profession. Having two teachers' incomes will be very trying in the coming months with furlough deductions.
"I think it is telling that only 13 percent of teachers responded to the survey. I agree the majority of teachers have no problem being evaluated on performance-although I feel 47 percent of teachers wanting to be paid based on the same 'mystery' criteria is way higher than I would put our staff's opinion. This topic is on the minds of every teacher, although without a real union in the South many are too afraid of consequences to speak out.
"Our representatives seem to keep taking from us because we as a group have not spoken out. I am baffled at how they plan to manage a system of student growth from year to year.
"What if my student I've had all year moves? Who gets credit for their scores? What about music, physical ed., art? What if I get a student a week before the test? If they score poorly, do I get a lower salary? Who will teach in classes or schools with large behavior issues and students that don't care to learn? Will instances of cheating increase by teachers to raise salaries? What about East Cobb schools or others with high achieving students? Their growth may be small even though they are doing great.
"The words on paper sound great and they sound like they would save money (at the cost of hurting those that teach our youth), but one of my 5th graders could tell you it would be idiotic. Even my worst behaved students could voice that the effort I have put into them to help them academically, socially, visit them at home to help during difficult times, phone calls, and emails could never be measured on a test....
"Has a state that has done performance-based salaries ever been successful? They want us to do more, with more students, less time, and lower pay."
What's your opinion?
dmckee9613@aol.com
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As for pay for performance, the legislature can't honor it's agreement to pay national board certified teachers their stipend...so why would any reasonable teacher believe the legislature is going to keep their word to reward those who meet their performance goals under a pay for performance scenario? I certainly don't.
I do live within my means. Only more of my means gets taken in the form of higher taxes, increased health care costs, mandatory TRS contributions and fewer teacher supply monies. If you expect my classroom to look the same and for me to work more hours for less money, you are sadly mistaken.
-- Law is going into effect this summer that teachers must be working in the field of their advanced degree to earn the increased salary.
--Also, do you go to a doctor with a doctorate, masters, bachelors, associates, or high school degree... should doctors not get paid more just because they have a higher degree... Teaching pay based on degrees is so low it is rediculous- you can have a doctorate and barely cross 100k if you work 30 years and become administrator of an elementary. Know any other professions that have doctorates and you can say that about?
Unions might solve teacher pay woes, but they definitely are not an asset to education (actually a detriment).
No one is picking on teachers, but cuts must come from the most expensive programs. I am very supportive for adequate and rewarding teacher pay, but we really must face up to the future where all of us are very likely to suffer lower standards of living because of past economic sins.
To me, teachers are very important, hard working people, as are many others. However, we should be glad when people are able to keep their jobs, and try not to complain excessively about lesser misfortunes.