What is Wrong with Rewarding Teachers Based on Student Success??

There are a thousand reasons this is a bad idea but I will focus on the grand mother of them all. Those that are under the impression that this is a system that would work at all are simply not connected to public education. This is simply a horribly naive viewpoint. In a nut shell it goes like this. If kids were all the same, if schools were all the same then perhaps rewarding teachers based on student or test results might have some meaning. BUT WOWZA BABY THIS IS HEAVENLY MILES FROM THE TRUTH. Ask any educator, this just ain't real no way no how. Children in many communities through out the USA have extraordinary difficulties, for example language, mobility and social economic educational backgrounds in particular.

Simply illustrated if a school is made of children that do not have english language skills and are illiterate in their own mother tongue they will need extra help with school work and will drive test scores down.  Students are sometimes of poor economic backgrounds in which parents did not attending school and hence the educational opportunities for them were very low, as they grew up or are growing up with no books in the house and both parents working late.

Now the other example is the Special Needs or Special Education Group. These students need extra help. It is understood that in public school they have a right to an education. Their progress is often slow and the hard working teachers that serve them must be patient and in it for the long haul. Perhaps teachers should be rewarded for this extra help and dedication and not monetarily punished.

Here is the thing: When students have challenges it means extra effort, work, training and resources are required. Fact is these students drive scores down, way down. If you decide to punish the teachers that do the EXTRA HARD WORK these unique students require, then in effect you are saying needy student equal bad teacher. Result get rid of students in need and punish those teachers with the hardest jobs.

Final result: That segment of society consisting of upper class wealthy educated parents will get a good education and the teachers that teach this population will be protected. Those that serve the general population will be underpaid and or removed. Is this public education. No it is a very cruel underhanded attempt to divide society into rich and poor and to eliminate the opportunity for the FREE SOCIETY afforded by public education.

Perhaps we need to find ways to better support and reward high achieving students but merit pay does not address this, short of destroying the right to a free education for the majority. Don't be fooled by this underhanded ploy. Do punish teachers for doing a tough job.If ever you doubt the dedication of the teacher go spend a day in the classroom standing in his shoes.  The truth will be as plain as the nose on your face.