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The editorial pages of the Mitchell Daily Republic and that Sioux Falls paper voice their approval for Governor Rounds's proposal for differential teacher pay. Secondary math and science teachers hard to find? Pay 'em more, watch 'em beat a path to the schoolhouse door. Simple!
I've been turning the idea of differential pay over in my head since that really good question at the Madison school board candidate's forum in April. I remain torn between free-market pragmatism and the inherent, incalculable value of all teachers.
The resentment a differential pay scheme would cause among teachers is understandable. Our school boards, the state, and the education industry have created a certain set of certification and continuing education hoops that many teachers have dutifully jumped through to advance on the salary scale. Given my own experience with education courses, I will hazard a guess that the vast majority of K–12 teachers taking graduate education courses aren't doing so for the sheer love of learning; they're following the only path we make available to them for boosting their pay by their own efforts. If differential pay suddenly negates the investment other teachers have made in climbing the salary schedule, they'll be rightfully displeased. Wherever the extra money for differential pay would come from, schools still need to give current teachers a return on their investment in further education.
If differential pay is meant to respond to market forces, we must carefully structure the rules to make it truly responsive. Harrisburg Superintendent Jim Holbeck tells Terry Woster he would prefer the state set up the rules for differential pay rather than leaving local school boards to take the heat for deciding to pay the math teacher more than the P.E. teacher. But what happens when Pierre sets up rules, and then Harrisburg hits a streak where it has lots of good applicants for the science jobs but no qualified takers for the HS social studies positions? Local districts need to freedom to respond to the unique conditions of their labor markets. Maybe every district in the state will need the same incentives for exactly the same hard-to-hire areas, but the best differential pay program will give local districts the freedom (and responsibility) to use their resources to incentivize the positions they deem most urgent.
But holy cow—here's a brainstorm! Why not take the small-school route and hire all interdisciplinary teachers? At Montrose, I taught English and math. Why not have every teacher study up and teach classes outside their usual field? They could bring a refreshing outside perspective to each class, show the connections among all the different fields of learning, and all cash in on the differential pay! Everybody wins!
Update 12:05 CDT: See also PP's "education should work just like business" perspective.
F’ing USD
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So a friend of mine made this rap a few years back, and I have to tell you
I have friends over the years who went there and tell the same boring
stories, LOL.
1 day ago
Cory,
ReplyDeleteRight now across the state and especially in smaller schools, the bar for teacher pay needs to be raised across the board - not just for hard to find subject areas. There are also still working conditions in some smaller schools where teachers have to decide if they need a bathroom break or lunch. Ask local Drs. which profession has the highest amound of bladder infections -- I can guarantee you their response will be "teachers".
High school teachers, like math and science may not have to eat lunch with their students whereas the elementary teachers do ... and the hours and time involved would NOT be equitable.
I have reservations about this proposal and potential abuses.
I assume we are talking mostly about science and math teachers here for high school. What happens if these teachers are poor teachers? Based on my kids' experience, those were problem teachers but impossible to get rid of. They were coaches, after all! Finding teachers is not the only problem, they also have to want to teach and attempt to do a good job at it as their first priority.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are far deeper problems with our educational system right now. Essentially two groups of people are forming: Those who highly value education and those who do not.
ReplyDeleteThose who highly value education send their kids to private school and make long term life decisions based on getting the best education for their kids possible. Those who do not value education just dump their kids on whatever school is near by their homes.
The problem with you approach CAH is that even if you provide more funding for certain types of teachers that are currently lacking in public shcool, the motivated parents/kids are already getting that education within the system (or doing their own after school learning/seeking out other sources/etc.). The non-motivated parents/kids will destroy whatever is added to the existing system because they do not value it.
Without having motivated/dedicated families any amount of money put towards education will not be sufficient. You're attempting to a solve a problem that the majority does not want solved.
Honestly, the only long term solution is to move our system to a multi-track system. Technical vs. nonTechnical/etc.
Put the motivated with the motivated.
Comrade Cory:
ReplyDeleteMaybe we need to let the free market system decide how much teachers are paid.
Teachers don't teach for the money, but for the love of the profession. Money is just a benefit.
Most people can do science/math or English. Few can do both. You've compromised your earning potential (as have many teachers) by staying in SD to live.
There is another class of secondary and elementary teachers graduating from DSU each semester. They are more than willing to apply for their first jobs in SD to gain valuable experience.
There will never be a shortage of social studies/history teachers as long as their is a need for coaches in HS sports.
I wonder what a teacher would pick if they had a choice between a small school with 10-15 kids per class for low pay or a big school with large class sizes and better pay.
Good comments all around: differential pay is a minefield. it could create a whole lot of grief without producing the benefits Rounds thinks it will. I remain doubtful as to whether it's worth trying, but if the Governor is getting ready to put the idea on the train and railroad it through the Legislature (or just make it happen by executive fiat, as he seems to enjoy doing with laptops and ethanol tax), we need to look for ways to make the best of it.
ReplyDeleteAnon, love is great, but teachers have to eat and pay the mortgage. We can't keep counting on people filling the education labor pool out of sheer charity.
I for one hope teachers are teaching because they love the job. Even though I take exception to the fact that they are 50th in the nation (based on cost of living etc), I believe that they still need to make a decent living for themselves and their families. Money is more than just a benefit for them no matter how much they love their jobs. Even I get that!
ReplyDeleteNonnie
can you believe jim holbeck ran as a republican in 2006 against brock greenfield in district 6's primary election? ha! so much for government close to the people
ReplyDelete