Chicago Tribune LTTEs articulating the issues of merit pay, classrooms

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Merit pay
September 07, 2012

In a perfect world, merit, or performance based pay for teachers would be the way to go. All evaluating administrators would be sane and impartial. All students would have loving, caring parents who do everything possible to help their kids succeed. Test scores in all schools would truly reflect the abilities and dedication of the teachers.
Does your editorial staff really believe that there are no administrators who are racially, religiously or sexually prejudiced? Are there no egomaniacs that would lower the rating of someone they dislike, or a teacher who had disagreed with their ideas?

In four decades as an award-winning teacher, I have encountered these people. One principal told teachers of the arts, "They should get lower ratings, because they do not teach real subjects." Another said she would close out music and art because, “An unhappy student from each came to her office, and these should be happy subjects.” Should teacher pay be decided on the evaluations of such people?

Should it be decided on the evaluations of gangbangers who would certainly blame their teachers for failing? Dedicated teachers of the arts and physical education do not give standardized tests. Should they never get a pay raise? Do you really think that teachers at select schools, which admit only superior students, deserve more pay because the scores would always be higher? Would many teachers only “teach to the test,” depriving students of the opportunity to think creatively?

Yes, there are bad teachers. Yes, fine teachers deserve better pay. Unfortunately, in the real world, there is no fair way to get this done.

Classroom conditions

My daughter, a high school social studies teacher at a North Side public school, started the school year this week with a class of 43 teenagers. Several have special needs, including one with autism and another with Down syndrome, each with their aides. Including the special education teacher, there were 47 people in the classroom; even with folding chairs to supplement the desks, there was not enough room for everyone to sit down. Need I add there was no effective air conditioning?

What’s new this year? The kids have an hour and a half added to their school day and not with sports, music art or shop, but confined to an overcrowded, under-resourced classroom.

These conditions bring to mind more a minimum security prison than a place of learning.

The only thing standing between these eager students and a wasted year is the resolve of their teachers and their union to fight for the resources needed for a meaningful education. When we support our teachers we support our students!

[Stuart G]

1. k & r thanks for posting...nt