From Deseret News archives:
Merit pay for teachers a must
But until that world arrives, the system must make arrangements as it goes. And one of the better arrangements to come along is the notion of "merit pay" for teachers. Common sense says that paying people more who do more will prompt others to work harder and do more. But common sense and education haven't always gone hand in hand. In fact, officials at the State Board of Education compare implementing a plan for "performance pay" to mounting a trip "into the wilds of Alaska."
It's unchartered territory, laden with dangers and chill.
The Legislature has set aside $20 million for performance-based compensation, so money isn't the issue. The issue is the upsetting of the status quo. Many teachers feel that they will be judged by subjective standards, that teachers who curry favor will get the extra money while those who are a "challenge" and rather unorthodox will be punished.
Right now school districts are on the hot seat to submit a plan by July 1 detailing who will be eligible for differentiated compensation, how their performance will be assessed and how much money will be handed out.
It is just a first step. But a first step in an important journey.
Teaching is a difficult, daunting task.
Judging which teachers are successful and which ones are not can be just as daunting.
But the current "one size fits all" approach doesn't offer enough incentive. It's time teachers who are worth their weight in gold get paid that gold. Just as it's time for teachers who simply "phone it in" to be bucked from the horse so true professionals can run the show.
Recent comments
Amen Chuck!!!!!
Amen Orem Parent!!!
lovetoteach | June 27, 2008 at 10:44 p.m.
Any teacher that shows up to work with 7th grade students MERITS all...
Orem Parent | June 27, 2008 at 6:36 p.m.
I can just see my foreign students that don't speak english being...
Anonymous | June 27, 2008 at 6:33 p.m.
- Clinton urges foes to end conflict 11:09 p.m.
- World datelines 11:08 p.m.
- Agency inspects former bomb range 11:07 p.m.
- Season as owner a success 11:07 p.m.
- Sports briefs 11:06 p.m.
- 20 years ago this week in sports 11:05 p.m.
- Birthdays for Sunday, Nov. 15 11:03 p.m.
- Singers help mark Velvet Revolution 11:02 p.m.
- Denzel watches son at hoops game 11:02 p.m.
- Gabor's lawyer blames Madoff 11:01 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- Born of water and the spirit
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
190 - Senators want food tax restored
165 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Both the Cougs and the Utes are posers, TCU is the real deal. Does anyone...
. . . to say goodbye to Senator Bennett -- and ALL incumbents from both sides...
There's an audience for UVU. The school has 30,000 students, which dwarfs...
Bravo to the city, the church, and the gay community for listening to and...
Still a few Freshmen on here. WELL MY MOM CAN BEAT UP YOUR MOM. Utah and...
Hilarious to read Utes boasting "at least we scored 28 points on them"!!!!...
"28 points and almost 300 yards tonight from a freshman qb...think about it,...
The MWC is weak. The y and u talk the talk but can't walk the walk. Utah...
ESPN announcer said it all -- when the score was 44-14 for TCU, "the game's...
no i expect harvey to run over rojo again and byu to win hahahaa

