Should Teachers Pay Be Linked To Student Grades

[lizbud]

This Editorial in the local paper really got me thinking about the
bleak outlook for many kids in this area. I have no school age childen
anymore, but I don't envy any of today's parents of school age kids.
I don't have any answers, but I do believe the love of learning should
be instilled by the parents before the children even go to school.


Our Opinion
IPS must find path to progress
Posted: April 14, 2010Comments

A discouraging new report makes clear that a culture of failure still is deeply entrenched in Indianapolis Public Schools.

A team of education consultants, hired by the state, found inept administrators, weak teachers and a central office staff that is more disruptive than helpful in 12 of IPS' worst-performing schools. The report could lead to a state takeover of as many as eight of the schools next year.


Whether the state Department of Education, the mayor's office or another entity could improve conditions at the schools is an open question. But it's obvious that the district's current approach is not working, despite sustained efforts by Superintendent Eugene White to improve academic performance and student behavior.

The consultants, employed by a firm called Cambridge Education, found massive deficiencies at five IPS high schools -- Arlington, Broad Ripple, Howe, Manual and Northwest. Numerous red flags also were raised about Donnan Middle School "For too long the school and the district have attributed low ISTEP scores to students' poor skill levels on entry and their challenging social circumstances," the evaluation team wrote of Donnan. "It is time to recognize the shortfalls in teaching that have led to the high levels of failure and to carry out a detailed examination of what students need and how instruction can best meet their needs."

Other schools fared better, but even at those sites evaluators found problems that should trigger significant reform. At Gambold Middle, for example, the team urged district administrators to "ensure the school is released from large numbers of initiatives and professional developments that detract from the school's core purpose of raising student achievement."

It's time to drop the old excuses about why so many schools within IPS are failing. It's not because of student poverty. At Gambold Middle, 85 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Yet, the principal is given high marks by evaluators and the school's overall performance is judged as fair. In contrast, at Donnon Middle, where 83 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, overall performance is rated as poor and administrators and teachers were given low marks. "A major barrier to student progress is that the school does not know how to improve," evaluators found.

The same could be said for much of IPS: It does not know how to improve. For the sake of this city and its children, a way forward must be found.

[moosmom]

Absolutely not. The students my best friend teaches would earn her no pay because they don't do their work, their parents could givbe a rat's patoot, so why should the teachers pay be linked to student grade.

If the kids can't make on their own brainpower, then they just don't get promoted to the next grade. That's like trying to bribe a teacher to do their already tedious, over worked job. How about Superintendent's or Principal's pay linked to the kids' grades???

[Puckstop31]

All I can say is.... The more I read and learn about today's public 'education' systems, the more I praise God for allowing us to be in the situation where we can home school Hannah.

Tanya and I look forward to teaching Hannah in a way that best suits her and not to some silly standard.

[Grace]

My youngest grandson is about to graduate from a public, magnet high school in Richmond, Virginia. I was sad when they moved there from Michigan, but now I'm delighted - for Evan's sake.

He has been in this school for 3 years. Every one of his senior classes is Advanced Placement - Latin, Calculus, Trig, even English. He's been accepted at the university of his choice, with a full tuition scholarship. He will start with junior year math classes - not freshmen.



I totally agree with blue -

IF a kid has an aptitude for working with his hands it should be nurtured with programs and not stifled with courses geared to get them into a school they have no interest in attending.

Back in the Dark Ages, when I was in high school, not everyone was expected to attend college. There were classes with focus on Industrial Arts and the like.

I have no answers for the problems in some public school systems. I think there is blame to be spread all around. Teachers, parents, you name it.

[jennielynn1970]

How about having parents that actually raise their children and help them with homework??

How about we deduct from their pay, or increase it, for their child doing poorly/better on tests in school.

I think this would be equitable.