tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post701633269546560369..comments2023-10-22T13:06:32.952-04:00Comments on Organizing Grievances: Merit Pay and the AFTwobbliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13840385151170176977noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post-64277525938872095822008-11-19T14:22:00.000-05:002008-11-19T14:22:00.000-05:00I seem to remember a certain union offering Obama'...<I>I seem to remember a certain union offering Obama's support for merit pay as a prime reason to support his Democratic opponents in the primaries.</I><BR/><BR/>It's easier to say that than, "We all know who the candidate we are going to endorse is going to be because she happens to be from a state that has a vice-grip on our national federation." <BR/><BR/>As to merit-based pay, there is one big issue that I think every person who cares about education needs to holler for. Any kind of merit system needs to reward teachers for student <I>improvement</I>, not overall improvement in the school, not test score at the end of the year, not how many kids pass to the next grade. If we are going to base everything on standardized tests, then please, please, please for the love of any higher power, at least let them use standardized tests correctly by rewarding teachers and schools who improve students the most.mike3550https://www.blogger.com/profile/09621465191508532187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post-90057421218536310442008-11-19T12:27:00.000-05:002008-11-19T12:27:00.000-05:00" It would probably also be good for teachers unio..." It would probably also be good for teachers unions to make this a bargaining, rather than electoral, issue. "<BR/><BR/>from your (precious) lips to God's ears, wobs.lex dexterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02984338384931444324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2171294815895801587.post-65892974299294788462008-11-18T14:23:00.000-05:002008-11-18T14:23:00.000-05:00I'm all for accountability in education, don't get...I'm all for accountability in education, don't get me wrong. And there are a LOT of bad teachers out there...but there are a lot of good ones as well.<BR/><BR/>And I'm not sure those good ones will get the recognition (read: PAY) they deserve unless they are forced to teach to standardized tests, which is already a problem thanks to NCLB. But right now, the only way they have of rewarding said pay is to go by test scores. And there's a shitload of problems with standardized tests and how they measure achievement/knowledge.<BR/><BR/>Add in merit based pay, and you will struggle to find good teachers who want to bust their asses teaching to tests that will determine whether or not they are financially compensated. And students are not really inspired by standardized tests nor by the teachers who frantically teach to them...bringing down morale, interest in school, and, consequently (and ironically) test scores.<BR/><BR/>It's a pretty vicious cycle. And believe me, it IS very, very challenging to find creative and engaging ways to teach to specific benchmarks that are going to be measured by standardized tests. And what about the kids who have other shit going on and struggle with testing? Should they be penalized? Should their teachers?<BR/><BR/>Not really a fan of merit based pay...I booed Obama too when I found out about this. It was enough for me to really stop and think...but who was I gonna vote for, McPain? I hope they can find a more supportive, less standardized test-based method of incorporating merit based pay.<BR/><BR/>Off my soapbox now. Back to surfing the web.Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15390211227710961961noreply@blogger.com