Some Teachers Say Merit Pay Plan Is a Bitter Apple [FL E-Comp Plan]

The Ledger ^ | March 15, 2006 | Julia Crouse

[summer]

WINTER HAVEN -- The modern reality of teaching in Florida schools makes Bess Lott, a 32-year veteran, wonder whether she'd choose teaching as a career if she had it to do over.

Constant paperwork, comparatively low pay and FCAT pressure are all headaches, said the third-grade teacher at Winter Haven's Snively Elementary School of Choice.

But e-comp, the Department of Education's performance pay proposal, is the final straw, she said.

"They're talking about our salaries," she said....

[summer]

If teachers' salaries become tied to test scores, no teachers will want to teach the slow kids

I think they say they want to adjust for that, but, I do believe people are very concerned about this very issue. Thanks for your post.

[summer]

have to work two custodial jobs over 60 hours a week to stay here. I don't even make 40-thousand doing that.

You sound like you work very hard. What was your favorite subject in school? -- And, yes, I know about political correctness in public education. There are many threads on FR posted about that topic. :)

[summer]

So it's not a level playing field - that's life. Most people deal with it everyday.

Yes, that's true. I think the only two things we all deal with is what -- death and taxes. :)

[summer]

RE your post #88 -- Well, teachers who have tenure do not get fired. But not every teacher has tenure either because they moved and don't have enough years in a district or they teach in private schools or whatever. Sometimes teachers get let go because of budget cuts if they are not tenured. What I think would be refreshing is to see some useless administrators get canned once in awhile.

[summer]

Re your post #92 - Yes, I'm in FL. And, I have to say -- some people on FR are against vouchers, too. I happen to be in favor of them, but not everyone is in favor of vouchers.

[summer]

Yes, K-12 teachers have tenure after a certain number of years in the same district. And, you're welcome. :)

[summer]

In fact, there are more teachers in my school in an association that is conservative in nature than the NEA.

Not only that, but I am always surprised at how many teachers post on FR! There are A LOT of teachers here! :)

[summer]

See my post #65. :)

[summer]

Gov Bush's foundation would like to know your opinion on E Comp. See my post #65. Thanks!

[dpa5923]

Unfortunately, the students and parents that so desperately need to move kids to private schools are the ones that can least afford it.

Let's be honest, there are some excellent public schools in this country, just none in the inner city. They are in the more affluent suburban neighborhoods.

The only real answer is to tie the money for school to the kid, i.e., vouchers. The poor family doesn't get money for their kids education and hence no temptation to spend that money on something else, but they are given a choice to move their kids out of crappy schools.

[summer]

What's been fasci nating about vouchers in Florida is how few parents take the vouchers, as many more parents are eligible for them but don't take them. I think it requires an involved parent to bother to do the paperwork and make the decision, in which case, the vast majority of parents of kids in high poverty/minority schools are, shall we say, MIA.

[mysterio]

Even if they adjust it for year to year improvement for the student, the less sharp students are going to improve less than others even with excellent instruction.

My mom teaches honors and community bound students. And she loves both equally and is very dedicated. I want to encourage other teachers to take on that kind of challenge willingly.

My parents both teach, spend all of their free time preparing, and indoctrinate no one. Might be a rarity, but they are my heroes.

[summer]

the less sharp students are going to improve less than others even with excellent instruction.

Yes and no. While I think you may have a point, there is also this fact: some students are literally "late bloomers", and do not hit their stride academically until later.

[summer]

My parents both teach, spend all of their free time preparing

This is something I think many people do not realize -- how much time great teachers spend just thinking and preparing to teach. You can spend every waking moment preparing to teach. You will improve as a teacher, each day, but you will also have no life. This is sometimes too much to take, if your standards are high in the classroom. Finding a balance is very tough in teaching when you always want to do better and always want the best for your students. 24 hours in day does not seem like enough time.

[Nextrush]

History is my forte (Social Studies for the politically correct out there). I an extremely knowledgable about broadcast and print media and politics is my sort of hobby.

I thought about what you said yesterday and maybe you need two jobs, too. A radio talk show host I used to listen to a lot, Bruce Williams always used to tell people to do that to pay off credit card debts and or buy things they needed or wanted.

My German teacher in high school taught at a local college in the evenings to make some extra money.

The National Education Association and other left-leaning groups have been my "concern" to one degree or another for thirty years. I was conservative as a teenager and before it was "cool." I'm in a much better position to monitor the situation on the ground now than I was then, but I'm dead serious when I write about their agenda. One NEA magazine even said that local school tax increases should be blamed on George W. Bush and No Child Left Behind. There is a down and dirty effort to resist education reform everwhere spearheaded by the Education Association that's got even Republicans like my Congressman Todd Platts in their pocket to oppose school choice ("vouchers").

[cbkaty]

The only real answer is to tie the money for school to the kid, i.e., vouchers. Let's be honest, there are some excellent public schools in this country, just none in the inner city.

Bravo...but what voting block will always use their vote against these children? Could it be public school teachers, administrators, and their lobby?

I keep hearing that same old bag-O-beans, "Some public schools are excellent....mine is great...it's the other kids school that stinks."

Actually...any business that is not responsive to its clients deserves to go out of business....

[TChris]

What I think would be refreshing is to see some useless administrators get canned once in awhile.

Or many! :-)

I heartily agree.

[hgro]

The screaming and hair pulling by incompetent teachers and the NEA will raise in volume as a sensible solution to the public school failures expose more and more failures.

All because some teachers would make better hamburger tossers at McDonalds.

Pay teachers for demonstrated ability not tenure.

[q_an_a]

there are people who started at WalMart and at McDonalds who now earn 6 figures, but their starting pay looked like a teacher. We all start low and work our way up.

[summer]

maybe you need two jobs, too

Thanks, but I am busy enough already. :)

I enjoyed reading your post. Maybe you should consider a new career as a social studies teacher?? :)