So when choosing what topic to blog about I started thinking about recent topics in education. I guess I'm going to be brave and talk about the controversial issue occurring with our governor Chris Christie. He has been under a lot of heat, from myself included, about the different plans of action he wants to enact in the NJ education field. I'll only address one.
Christie would like to abolish the pay increments teachers receive based on years in the field and graduate credits/degrees. As someone who is pursuing her Masters I think the later is absurd. Yes, I am continuing school because I want to expand my knowledge on the education field and hold a higher degree but I do feel teachers should be compensated for taking the extra (not easy or walk in the park) step to further their education. When striving to learn more about the ever evolving topic of education and better oneself as an educator, students as well as teachers benefit. If teachers didn't strive to continually better themselves, teaching in the classroom would take a severe hit. Not to mention that attending graduate school is not cheap, especially at a school like St. Peter's College :-)~.
I do not think this criteria of receiving a pay raise should be abolished. However, I do not feel that just being a teacher for several years should automatically entitle you to a pay increase. Heck, honestly I don't feel like the pay "steps" are even that much sometimes. I can confidently say that if pay increases were based on students' performance I would be entitled to a larger increase than the automatic ones offered now. I think if teachers had students' performance linked to their raises, not only would they work harder in making sure their students are learning the material but they would be much better compensated for the hardwork that teachers so often have overlooked. Moreover, the teachers that don't strive to work hard can stay at the "comfortable" salary they have. Additionally, it will be much easier and a quicker task to figure out which teachers should possibly be up for a review.
Like I mentioned, there are sooo many more points in his plan that we can address, but that would be an endless blog...
-Lauren
I don't have the knowledge to really say much about the governor and what he is doing with teachers pay. I can say that through out my career I never got an increase based on taking classes or furthering my education. Yes it certainly helped me get more money but only over a very long time. I don't know any profession that will give you increases as you go through classes. I am not sure if I agree or not agree but I think most people outside of the teaching world understand more that educators get pay raises after the masters programs are completed. Most companies don't pay for employees to further their educations it is mostly out of pocket (if they do it is not much) and then who knows whether it pays off.
ReplyDeleteI think all teachers should start with a large salary, at least 85,000. Make the barriers to entry in education harder, then compensate the way the rest of the world.
What bothers me a bit is that the benefits all union workers get are incredibly generous and are for life. I pay $725 per month from my check and my firm pays a like amount every month for my benefits. It is crushing and with Obama care it is going to get cheaper for the corporations and more expensive for the people. I am seeing this first hand at my firm which has implemented changes based on the changes coming down the pike in 2014. I literally cried when I saw my increase in insurance fees this year. This is what the rest of the world deals with. I am not saying educators benefits should change, what do I know. But understand what the rest of America is facing and what they feel when they hear about unions and benefits. Teachers salaries should be higher I truly believe that. But the pay scales are not terrible. I have lots of friends that are teachers in NYC and after 10 years they are making around 85K with amazing benefits and summers and holidays off. That is a lot of time off. I know many people that have worked `10 years with only 3 or 4 weeks vacation in marketing, advertising, etc still not making that much salary and they are paying through the nose for benefits. So I do think the time off is part of a teachers compensation. I hope this does not offend that is not the purpose. I personally think the whole system needs to be revamped. Teachers should be paid more because the work they do is truly one of the most important around.
Rosanna
My biggest concern with linking pay increases to student achievement is how to measure this achievement. Currently, there is no national standardized test. Each state can choose to administer their own test. You cant use class grades because they can be easily inflated or manipulated to ensure that achievement is reached. I could go on and on about Gov. Christie and his plans for educational reform. However, what I have learned following him is that he often throws out ideas without a real, concrete plan on how to implement them.
ReplyDeleteLauren, I agree on certain points you make, but I also disagree on others. There is a very serious misconception about teachers going around. I don't understand why everyone is linking the word "lazy" or "unmotivated" to the teaching profession. Doesn't this problem affect other professions as well? I am not saying that because this problem affects every profession we should just let it happen. But it is not fair for Christie to use this argument to attack the public school system.
ReplyDeleteOne of the points I disagree with is merit pay. I would like to know who would get the so-called “hope” classes? Wouldn’t those teachers have a better chance of getting higher scores year after year? Aren’t most of the parents of these kids on “hope” classes very involved on their kids’ education? How would anyone measure for the many variables that affect a student’s performance on a standardize test that I find extremely biased. What are we testing our kids on? Where do the 7 intelligences come into play on these standardize tests? Why are ESL students tested on Math even if they come to this country a week before the test? Why is it ok to say that their accommodation is extra time during the test? Would a person that doesn’t speak Chinese do better on a test with extra time? It’s so sad but most of these things have nothing to do with educating our kids.
I don’t understand why teachers are pushed to differentiate their lessons throughout the school year if their students are going to be assessed by the state in one narrow-minded pen and paper test for hours.
I understand that students performance needs to be measured, i just don't agree with the methods used.
It's funny how instead of going after the real people that cause this economic mess, politicians find a way to make the poor fight the poor. During these difficult times people have a great desire for justice and equality.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we continue to look upon ourselves instead of realizing the fact that Christie is ranked in the top 5 best paid governors in the US. Why doesn't he make some cuts there?
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/gov_christie_is_4th-highest_pa.html
ReplyDelete