Blog: Open Education
Title: Teacher Pay – Current Model Definitely Outdated
Entry Posted: November 29th, 2010
This blog created by Thomas J. Hanson incorporates the major factors that go into student’s increased achievement. Hanson classifies the reason for higher achievement into two categories family support and teacher effectiveness, although in this blog Hanson expands on teacher effectiveness. At its core teacher effectiveness is motivated by and or viewed in correlation with pay. The author discusses the topic by outlining the current model, talking about reconstruction of the General Master’s Degree, and then tackling changes that need to be made to the system.
In class we touched on the topic of merit pay and the reasoning behind the Race To The Top changes. Teacher evaluation is a large portion of RTTT’s mission. This reform links teacher pay with student success in hope that this will stir motivation in teachers and as a result improves teacher effectiveness. Hanson mentions that the current model of pay doesn’t account for the time and preparation that some teachers pour into their curriculum, a teacher who may put little effort into the classroom outside of class is given the same salary as one who gives hours and hours of preparation. In the same respect since teacher salary is correlated to experience, teachers are not paid for quality or effectiveness, but time in the profession. Hanson also brings up the factor that although this process is already in action that many teachers are weary on the idea, similarly as future educators this scale of pay is sort very alarming.
The author’s argument made me think a lot. I am in much agreement that the salary format has many loopholes for teachers and feel that this categorization of pay may not even improve effectiveness. I do deeply understand the importance on teacher effectiveness; yet feel that correlating teacher pay with effectiveness is an inefficient manner to base pay upon. Many students that could be fantastic teachers could be drawn away from this profession based on this factor. Additionally, one major concept that Hanson never brought up was the different combinations of students learning. Meaning that some students may not progress due to cognitive disabilities or other special needs and the teacher would be docked regardless of their terrific teaching abilities. Overall, Hanson brought up some great points and I agree with his perspective on the topic.
Hanson’s opinions are closely linked to social reconstruction. Hanson brings up the topic of merit pay because student success is connected to parent involvement and teacher effectiveness. This factor shows that Hanson believes in the importance of socialization and the benefits that a child receives from that opportunity of socialization. Furthermore the fact that the students are given an equal opportunity due to the fact that the teacher must be advocating progress for all students, describes social reconstruction thinking. Social reconstruction also favors knowledge as political; Hanson mentions that a teacher who has a master’s degree may not have even benefited their teaching from the degree, but rather improved their status. In that aspect knowledge is just a form of position, but not necessarily the truth.
Reading this blog, created by Thomas J. Hanson, was very interesting and got me to really think about my future in teaching. One of the main focuses on this blog was about how teachers are getting paid based on their student’s performances on standardized tests. In my future, there is the possibility that I will become a special education teacher. In my special education clinical, I recently watched my cooperating teacher give standardized tests to three different students, all of whom have different cognitive disabilities. All three performed very differently from each other, but struggled in many different ways. One child, who is non verbal, had a hard time even pointing, and guessing on an answer. If I am a special education teacher when I’m older, and am relying on these student test scores, which are very low, to base my pay, would not be equal or fair at all. In this blog, Hanson discusses that the idea of this is wrong, and that teachers should instead be based on student’s academic success overtime. This would be much more effective in seeing the success of the students and of the teacher as well. I like this blog that Chelsea chose, as I believe it is something that all future teachers need to be aware of for their future.
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