Comments on: Wanted: Teacher. Starting Salary $125,000 (Plus Bonus)

By: Kristoffer Smith

Kristoffer Smith — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:06:34 +0000

I agree with the comments. We can tell teachers we value them all we want. But, when we pay teachers less than we should, give them fewer benefits than they deserve, and put them in classrooms lacking the resources necessary to provide students with a quality education, the teachers just don’t believe us. Should we be surprised fewer talented people are chosing to go into education? Vanderhoek’s idea is a perfect use of a Charter School. I wish I’d thought of it! The results should prove profound. Better pay is the future for educators, as a shortage is coming.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:27:49 +0000

The salary should be attractive. The signal it sends about the importance of excellent teachers may be just as attractive. Money can say, “I want to buy you,” and it can say, “I value you.”

By: Jerry Stevens

Jerry Stevens — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:54:09 +0000

One of the most interesting aspects of this proposal is that the principal makes only $90,000. I’ve long thought that we signal our priorities when entry level jobs include actual day-to-day engagement with children, and promotion away teachings earns one a raise.

I note too that there are some tradeoffs, which I think is a good thing. The teachers will have to take on tasks assigned to assistants at other schools. And “only” two social workers.

By: Jason Kuznicki

Jason Kuznicki — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:54:29 +0000

You know, if I were offered $150,000 to teach in a charter school, I’d start to have second thoughts about the Cato Institute. Much as I love the place.

By: Chris Austria

Chris Austria — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:40:14 +0000

You certainly got my attention…You are right, Vanderhoek’s experiment will succeed but it won’t “prove much of a viable pattern for school systems elsewhere.”

By: AMW

AMW — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:01:23 +0000

What I fear, in fact, is that all the wrong lessons, e.g., that merely paying bad teachers more money will improve performance, will be argued to support even more bloated public school budgets.

The real lesson is that different methods are going to work well for different kids in different situations. So people need the freedom to try a lot of different things to figure out what works in their own particular circumstances.

By: D.A. Ridgely

D.A. Ridgely — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:31:09 +0000

Sorry, Greyson, but I was trying to mention only those movies that didn’t actually suck. This is why there was no mention of Mona Lisa Smile, either. (smile) As for music and Latin, I was just quoting the article. As a longstanding liberal arts snob, I approve of the required teaching of such ‘useless’ subjects, especially because I also think they help develop math and language skills as well.

Constant Viewer, by the way, is off later today to see The Bank Job. CV still doesn’t understand why Jason Statham hasn’t broken out yet as the next action hero superstar.

By: Greyson

Greyson — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:21:17 +0000

D.A., or should I say CV, you forgot Dangerous Minds… hahaha, oh that one was too funny to pass up…

But seriously, it should be an interesting experiment. I’m not sure I see why great teachers shouldn’t think of salary as important, if not only to allow themselves to be better teachers. I know my mom has always schilled out a good portion of her salary for things that her district wouldn’t cover, and believe me her district covers a lot more than your average inner-city district. In today’s economy it is almost impossible to get a top-quality math or science teacher, unless you’re willing/able to pay a much higher wage, but of course the NEA and AFT aren’t fans of differentiated pay.

I must also suggest that “music and Latin. Period.” is not a mandate, as unlike the public school that would be the only other choice for most of these children they don’t HAVE to go to this school, nor do their parents HAVE to pay to fund it if they choose not to go. (Further, I’d wager to guess that the public school doesn’t offer any real form of music, or Latin instruction, nor any real “menu of electives to round out the core curriculum.”)