Merit Pay for Government School Teachers Doesn't Work
By mattic
@mattic (282)
United States
September 25, 2010 8:21am CST
The free enterprise system always results in higher quality and more efficiency than a government run system. If educators are really interested in educating, they would relinquish the monopoly...but they're not. They only want the money. This article from Cato explains why merit pay doesn't work in the government school monopoly. www.cato-at-liberty.org/why-public-school-merit-pay-doesn't-work/
Do you think education should be taken out of the hands of government?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
26 Sep 10
I don't think that government shouldn't be taken out of education, for the same reason I don't think we should privatize our military: It doesn't make sense! If you privatize education than who will decide what our kids learn? Who will decide what to do with kids that have problems learn at a certain pace? My kids go to a Charter School which is run by a corporation, and if they didn't have special needs I would NEVER send them to this place. Teachers are completely disposable, over half of the teachers were fired, and it was very common to see teachers leave during the year. These kids don't create a bond, or a relationship with their teachers, they are treated more like Wal Mart cashiers, who are their to do a job, and that is it. I am sure that you had teachers that you remember from when you were in school, my kids don't have that because they aren't there long enough to be remembered. That is what would happen if we listened to you.
@mattic (282)
• United States
26 Sep 10
Using the anectdotal, based simply on one's personal experience, cannot define the imperical - a measured study of results. While the particual charter school you speak of may not be yielding the desired results, the problem may lie in the fact that most charter schools are still under government perview. The current situation precludes the checks and balances that are a natural outgrowth of a competitive market. The current system has no such means to monitor or hold accountable the failing schools - they continue to get the same tax dollars no matter what the outcome.
As to your question, who determines now what our children learn? It is a group who has been educated in highly socialist environments, are generally the lowest in intellectual rank, and often have no children of their own. The fact that home schoolers consistently out perform government school children is testimony that an "education degree" does not a great teacher make. Out of this morass comes such "modern" education ideas as "the United States is a democracy", "man-made global warming is a fact", and a blatant undermining of private property rights via the group dump bins used to confiscate students' supplies so that no one will go without. I take great issue with these doctrines being forced upon the innocent. The reality that mandatory, government run education is a plank in the Communist Manifesto, and that the founder of government school education stated his purpose was to "create good citizens" should be enough to alarm any responsible parent.
You are right in stating it is the parents' responsibility to see that their children are educated, and that is the most insidious aspect of government schooling. The parental responsibilities are advocated, at the general request of the school system and parental involvement is discouraged (unless it is to bake cookies or clean up the playground). So let us end the government mandated education system and allow parents to assume their responsibilities. The children will be much better off.
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
27 Sep 10
Mattic, Do you have an example of corporate school that are rated excellent? I know of this corporate school because my children go to it, I don't know of any other corporate schools. Actually the only direct contact that this schools has to the government is that idiotic George W. Bush "No child left behind" testing that is required to get funding. Other than that, they actually make up their own curriculum.
Well we have already seen the state of Texas try to rewrite history by ignoring slavery, and an entire religion. I am sure that these two subjects play no role in your personal version of history, but our young people should learn about it. You claim that leftist are running the schools, but I had many right wingers as teachers, and they sure made sure that you knew how they felt. If our public school system is based on communist theory, than please explain to me why the great anti communist Ronald Reagan didn't do something about this? We all know why Bush didn't, because he was one of the most pro communist presidents this country has ever seen. I wonder why you have never pointed that out????
Did you ever think that the reason that home schooling works so well BECAUSE the parents are involved? Our school has NEVER discouraged us from discussing the education of our children, in fact my wife asked the school to change our youngest sons school work and they did so. I don't know the last time you dealt with a school, but I can tell you that parents are encouraged to spend time in the class rooms, and help their children learn more.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
26 Sep 10
Actually I couldn't imagine the government not being involved with education. I use to work in education, the administrative side only and know that with "private education" there are a lot of issues that no media really picks up on until it is a huge problem. In my state private schools do not have to test the children that attend the school to see if they are actually learning. Nor do they have anyone to oversee all the school employees and volunteers to make sure they are fingerprinted.
Now, I suppose that if one doesn't care what the criminal background is of the teacher that is in the classroom with their children then there is no problem with privatizing education. And, I suppose if we don't care that future generations may or may not be able to read, then again private education is probably a pretty good thing.
@mattic (282)
• United States
26 Sep 10
You ignore the fact that literacy rates and test scores have not increased despite the massive increases in spending on education. As far as "background checks" for employees, how about we have teachers reveal their political leanings. We would find that they are intent on indoctrinating children into a collectivist ideal.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
10 Oct 10
Your first sentence says it all. There isn't much that the government does, that couldn't be done better in the private sector, and the public school system is right at the top of the list. Way back when it was first started, it was needed, but it has long outlived it's usefulness. It's time to make the switch to a competitive system that will force high standards of education to the forefront. The public school system is just an exercise in mediocrity.
A lot of people's knee jerk reaction to privatizing the school system is to say, "Oh no, we can't do that." But just stop and think about it. Why wouldn't competition in schools work? The fact is, it does work. The best schools in my area are the private schools. Most of the public schools have low ratings. Most of the private schools have high ratings. Most people want to put their kids in the private schools.
If we weren't supporting the grossly inefficient and over bloated public school system, your taxes would be greatly reduced and you could spend that money on tuition at a really good private school. All schools would be in competition for students, forcing them to keep there standards high to remain in business. Public schools don't have to worry about staying in business so they can continue in their mediocrity, barely educating our children.
Which would you rather have educate your child, teachers that have no incentive and no reason to maintain a high standard or a school with teachers that constantly strive to be the best? I'll take the latter thank you.
