Reply #18: Spoken like one who has absolutely no clue as to the immense amount of variable

[MadHound]

Inherent in any such standardized testing. The quality of teaching recieved by the students is simply one among many. Perhaps the kid doesn't give a damn(since the student's own advancement isn't tied to the test), perhaps the student has various special needs, perhaps the student hasn't taken their medication that they need, perhaps their hungry, perhaps they were abused by a parent the night before, perhaps the student had to work late at the local McD, helping his/her family make ends meet, perhaps perhaps, perhaps. Design me a standardized test that can take into account each and every one of these variables and then we can start talking about tying teachers' pay to children's testing.

Secondly, how would you like it if your pay, the material you were to work with, the instruments of your profession all were tied directly to the voters' whim, worse yet these things had to get by the voters in the form of a tax increase, and in many if not most cases that tax raise has to be passed by two thirds of the voters. If that doesn't go through, you are expected to do not only the job that you did last year, but in many cases have your duties increased if you are actually lucky to keep your job. Oh, and don't forget, you're supposed to educate the next generation via this method:eyes:

And funny how you dis the NEA. What, is it something personal with the NEA, or is this a general feeling about unions(you know, those long time backbones of the Democratic party)?

Frankly, the NEA has a point, pay teachers more and you will have a higher quality teacher. Make the benefits and compensation package attractive enough and you will be able to retain and recruit high quality teachers. Do you realize that most teacher education programs have the highest number of hours of any four year degree program? Generally aprox. a third more hours than other four year programs. Also a third more outlay in cash, more if you take into account interest. In addition, all school districts now require you to have started on your masters degree with four years of initial hire. More expensives tied to that. All for a profession starting out in the lowest quadrile of the degree pay scale, whose raises are tied to voters' whims and student testing. Yes, I think the NEA has a distinct point.

Your points ring hollow, trying to make teachers and the NEA into the bad guy here. I tell you what, let's tie your career, your pay raises to the whim of the voters and client evaluation. Let you have the debts of a fourth year teacher, ooo, and the same payrate too. Then let's see how long you keep singing this tune:eyes: