Reply #101: I think that rebuilding the public school system is incredibly important [View All]

[ekwhite]

We need to scrap No Child Left Behind (what an Orwellian name) in favor of programs that work. Instead of a punitive program that encourages teachers to "teach to the test," we need a system that encourages teachers to excel, and gives help to those that don't. Charter schools and vouchers are just means of keeping "separate but equal" in place without having to mandate segregation.

I'm not certain about the "merit based pay" thing, however. I would like to see teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty to be rewarded for their efforts in some way. Since I don't know the specific problems of merit based pay, I won't recommend it, but I would like to see a bonus system, or "master teacher" status, or even flexible rewards for teachers who excel.