Why is it that the best teachers in the public schools are paid the same as the mediocre and worst instructors

Question

Doesn't it make more sense to reward our most gifted educators who go above and beyond?

Answer 1

For better or worse, it's almost impossible to judge teacher performance. You simply cannot quantify it. Others have mentioned test scores, but that is a highly problematic gauge for many reasons. For one thing, it would reward teachers who already work with gifted or priveleged students, and penalize those who work with challenging or at-risk kids. Secondly, it would discourage new teachers. It takes about 5 years of experience for a teacher to reach maximum effectiveness. Those are learning on the job years. Even though a new teacher may go above and beyond (as many do), their efforts will not be as fruitful as those of an experienced master teacher. That is already very discouraging; adding a financial component could make it even worse.

Also, test scores do not accurately reflect teacher effort or skill. Teachers affect students positively in many ways that are not necessarily reflected in test scores. I know many children who, with the guidance of an exceptional teacher, turned around their out-of-control behavior. Those students still struggled academically and, although they showed marked improvement, it wasn't perceptible in their pass/fail test scores. Yet these teachers inspired the ambitions of children who might otherwise have dropped out.

Sometimes a teacher's influence cannot be seen or measured for years. It's hard to reward something so intangible.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, there is a pay scale that all teachers are paid by. As others have said, what or who is going to determine which teachers are the best. Some would say the teacher whose students have the best scores on mandated tests. If a teacher teaches only advanced or AP classes, is it fair for teacher who are working with the lower level students? Some schools have started to give a bonus to teachers based on the test scores of their students. In this example, it is evident who will get the bonus.
Yes, it makes sense to reward the better teachers, but it will never happen.

Answer 3

It would seem to make sense to pay good teachers better but the way to assess who is a good teacher is VERY difficult.

If you went only by test scores, then a teacher's pay would fluctuate from year to year. For instance, a fourth grade teacher has no control of the quality of education his or her students received from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. You can't expect the fourth grade teacher to make up for four years of potentially poor education in nine months. Also, every class is unique in abilities. Last year, my students were very good at math overall. This year's class is not nearly as good even though they received pretty much the same education as the previous class (same 3rd grade teacher, same school). No matter how much I work, I'm pretty confident their math scores will not be as good as last year's class. Does that mean I'm a great teacher one year then a poor one the next, even though I taught the same way both years?

There are just too many factors that a teacher cannot control that affects his or her students' outcomes. Parental support at home, previous education, and just general fluctuations on overall class ability from year to year are all examples of things a classroom teacher has no control over.

Administrator evaluations are difficult too. I'm sure everyone has had a boss which you had personality and philosophy differences. A fantastic teacher that produces positive results could receive poor evaluations thus lower pay based on these differences with an administrator. Abuse of power by administrators, especially when it involves pay (which is already low) could be very dangerous and unfair.

I agree that the teachers' unions often protect some bad teachers. However, the unions have also protected many good teachers too. To eliminate unions for teachers would result in even lower pay, poorer working conditions, and an exodus of good teachers from the profession.

Answer 4

The foremost answer to that is Unions. Secondly, how do you judge who are the best and worst instructors? Do you go by testscores, or a once or twice a year evaluation? As much as it does make sense to reward better educators more, it becomes a bit difficult to judge how to go about that. There are some school districts in the U.S. that have gone to giving teachers' pay raises based on testscores. If you're interested enough in this issue, you could find them and learn how effective they are.

Answer 5

dark_phoenix brings up good points but, the 5 years of learning and getting experience are true in most jobs...it's called "paying your dues". Also, locally on James Island, SC in Charleston County, we have introduced a "Charter" public school at the high school level. It has been a resounding success!!! The amount of funds allocated per pupil in the district are paid to the school to operate it and the elected board decides how the funds are to be spent. All funds STAY in the school, test grades went up, activities were paid for without fund raisers from the parents and teachers were given bonuses!!..It would be worthwhile to inquire into the possibility of your local schools' becoming "Charter" schools.

Answer 6

Because of the politics and cronyism and the unions that support the deadbeat teachers, Vice Principals and Principals... there are now about 100 or so teachers and VICE PRINCIPALS (and who knows how many Principals) that the Department of Education cannot get rid of but must pay hefty salaries and benefits while they sit around doing menial because of union contracts of the past... they are wasting our monies and time and causing the obstacles that prevent our children from learning... and they are the ones that are causing the GOOD EDUCATORS THAT INSPIRE LEARNING to leave the system.

Today, teachers can't even speak Standard American English, can't even pass the same exams required of our students, let alone converse without the "had went" "you know-you know-you know..." and "know-what-I-mean?" and other idiotic expressions.

Blame the unions and the politicians and the UNIONS that permit those inept, incompetent, inefficient, malfeasant employees to occupy space while our youths go uneducated!

Answer 7

I agree, I'm a teacher and our pay needs to be higher than what it is now. Some of us are doing the best we can. We have the kids futures in our hands. Work so hard and not get paid well its really a shame.

Answer 8

I know, but that's just the way it is...It doesn't sound fair, but what can you do? we'd lose a lot of teachers in a short amount of time if that were to happen. in the long run, it would be good, but not for short term solutions...

Answer 9

because life is unfair. if you want to reward the teacher ,you can try write-in to the board together with your friends( like a petition) and maybe that will help to give some recognition to your teacher

Answer 10

Sense and society don't always go together. Remember Rembrandt?