Grades and Merits for Teachers

I have spent sometime over the past few years working in afterschool programs and working closely with teachers, councilors and secretaries who seem to always know what's going on in the school. With all this exposure, I can unequivitally tell you that merit based pay for teachers is almost as bad of an idea as "No Child Left Behind".

I actually agree with the Teachers Union in the belief that this will put teacher against each other and cut back on the cooperation between them, because lets face it, in the current economic situation that Bush has left us in, that we are spending our way out of, if it came down to back stabbing for more pay, consider it done. Not to mention throwing away the future of schools in poor neighborhoods and rural America, after all who wants to work there if your not going to make as much as someone working in a good school where the kids actually want to learn.

Another idea I'll throw out for teachers to consider is cheating. I've heard say of an area school that a principal gave answers to students to raise test scores. Well, why not short change our kids if it means more money for teachers. If high grades is a benchmark, I'll give out answers no problem.

I'm not really one to claim "oh, the children, think about the children" but when it comes to their education, there is no better war cry. What about reestablishing their gym, music and art programs? Why not try and start there. If President Obama's claim is that this is the start of reform for an area that hasn't had reform, why not start by reinstituting these programs that are always the first to get cut when educations budgets slim down?

I don't know, maybe its easier when your the president and your kids go to private schools in one of the nations worst publicc school system. Or maybe President Obama should have skipped the tour of private schools in the DC area and actaully thought about enrolling his girls in a DC Public School...but what good would that do for them?