Argument by assertion, wispy generalities masquerading as specific goals, contradictory logic: it’s time for letters to the Times-Union! One Debra Techentien (who is not, as far as I can tell from her letter, a sort of digital Frankenstein) has some thoughts on teacher pay. My initial assessment is that there’s a 60 percent chance she’s a teacher herself. Seems familiar with the linguistic Kool-Aid.
A three-year study reveals that merit pay does not raise student test scores.
This opener is uncharacteristically brief, relevant and accurate. Savor it. The rest of the letter in no way lives up to this modest standard.
My responses:
- Teachers are not going to work to get bonus pay. If it money
(sic)
motivated us, we would be doing something else. Students do not learn and perform their best in a high-stakes testing culture.
Debatable. Perhaps they perform best in a low-stakes culture in which they weep quietly on each other’s shoulders.
- My solution for student performance: Offer students a safe and welcoming learning environment where they will be engaged in meaningful and relevant activities. Students will then be motivated to stay in school and do their best.
“Safe and welcome,” “meaningful and relevant.” Couldn’t be less specific if the specificity lobe of Debbie’s brain had been removed with a frickin’ laser. No doubt those puffy descriptions don't apply to some “learning environments,” (Christ, woman, just say “schools), but is anyone against safe schools? Also, not a solution.
- My solution for teacher performance: Offer teachers a work environment where they are trusted and valued to be the caring and competent professionals that they are.
“Trusted and valued,” “caring and competent.” I’m convinced now that Debbie teaches bad poetry at Fluffy Little Bunnies Middle School, where 110 percent of the teachers are trusted and almost all of them care, except for that mean bastard who teaches algebra.
Pay teachers a decent salary comparable to the private sector.
Confirming my hunch about the poetry thing. A less sloppy thinker and writer would have recalled that like five seconds ago we were told “if it money (again, sic) motivated us, we would be doing something else.” Poor Debbie probably didn’t expect her innocuous letter to the editor to get picked apart by some dick with too much time on his hands. But it’s not a safe and welcoming environment out here in the Interwebs. Also, a teacher’s salary, along with its benefits and summers off, is starting to look pretty damn good during 11 percent unemployment.
Some of the best hearts and minds of the country will then be motivated to stay in the teaching profession and do what they do best: Guiding the hearts and minds of our children.
Clear eyes full hearts can’t lose.
Any questions?
Yes: Can you arrange it so that you never teach anything to my hypothetical children? Thanks.
A three-year study reveals that merit pay does not raise student test scores.
This opener is uncharacteristically brief, relevant and accurate. Savor it. The rest of the letter in no way lives up to this modest standard.
My responses:
- Teachers are not going to work to get bonus pay. If it money
(sic)
motivated us, we would be doing something else. Students do not learn and perform their best in a high-stakes testing culture.
Debatable. Perhaps they perform best in a low-stakes culture in which they weep quietly on each other’s shoulders.
- My solution for student performance: Offer students a safe and welcoming learning environment where they will be engaged in meaningful and relevant activities. Students will then be motivated to stay in school and do their best.
“Safe and welcome,” “meaningful and relevant.” Couldn’t be less specific if the specificity lobe of Debbie’s brain had been removed with a frickin’ laser. No doubt those puffy descriptions don't apply to some “learning environments,” (Christ, woman, just say “schools), but is anyone against safe schools? Also, not a solution.
- My solution for teacher performance: Offer teachers a work environment where they are trusted and valued to be the caring and competent professionals that they are.
“Trusted and valued,” “caring and competent.” I’m convinced now that Debbie teaches bad poetry at Fluffy Little Bunnies Middle School, where 110 percent of the teachers are trusted and almost all of them care, except for that mean bastard who teaches algebra.
Pay teachers a decent salary comparable to the private sector.
Confirming my hunch about the poetry thing. A less sloppy thinker and writer would have recalled that like five seconds ago we were told “if it money (again, sic) motivated us, we would be doing something else.” Poor Debbie probably didn’t expect her innocuous letter to the editor to get picked apart by some dick with too much time on his hands. But it’s not a safe and welcoming environment out here in the Interwebs. Also, a teacher’s salary, along with its benefits and summers off, is starting to look pretty damn good during 11 percent unemployment.
Some of the best hearts and minds of the country will then be motivated to stay in the teaching profession and do what they do best: Guiding the hearts and minds of our children.
Clear eyes full hearts can’t lose.
Any questions?
Yes: Can you arrange it so that you never teach anything to my hypothetical children? Thanks.
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