🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <8485@lib.tmc.edu> laurie@biomath.mda.uth.tmc.edu (Laurie Gelb) writes:
>
>I could put it more strongly; the school district I'm in recently passed
>a large tax increase, largely on the argument that it would permit a 6%
>increase for some teachers.  "Merit pay?"  No, the original proposal broke
>it down by seniority.....  A school district asks for millions of dollars
>more, and they can't afford a real study to see what the teachers want?
>Laurie Gelb
>laurie@biomath.mda.uth.tmc.edu

I share your concern about proposals like this.  The district seems to to
fear a mass-exodus of experienced teachers but won't spend money on either
1. finding out if the teachers really want more money or on 2. finding a
distribution method that promotes good teaching.  If the district
officials won't do their own homework, the community should decide what
people/behaviors it wants to subsidize. 

  Why not use the extra money to pay teachers to take advanced course
work.  In addition, offer to pay a living stipend during the summer, but
require that the courses be substantial, in the area of certification, and
that the teachers pass it.  (Tuition programs usually fail on these
additional points.)