Teachers' pay based on students' test score
By vjenkins86
@vjenkins86 (1478)
United States
March 10, 2011 4:17pm CST
I know this is a big topic going around where I live. There's a bill being discussed in the government which will affect teachers' paycheck. If the bill is passed, half of a teacher's paycheck will be based on how well his/her students on standardized tests. According to some supporters, this bill will help attract young teachers since their income will not be based on their years of experience but how well they do in the classroom. Protesters argue that it's unfair since all students do not test well (though they are learning) and it gives the teachers less rights.
Which side do you agree with? I'm unsure who is correct or how this will go. Any insight?
2 people like this
9 responses
@piaoruo (43)
• China
11 Mar 11
Now the special environment created the special nature of the teacher.Indeed,the measure of a teacher now depends entirely on the standard of teaching these students that he taught the final examination results good or bad.If te test scores of students in this class is not ideal,perhaps no one would think that students can not,but will feel that the teacher will not teach their students!
@youless (112113)
• Guangzhou, China
11 Mar 11
This is a terrible idea. Here the study pressure is already so serious for the students. If the teachers' income will be based on the students' scores, then the teachers will push the students to focus on the scores and therefore they ignore to learn something. It is just like an exam machine.
I love China
@peavey (16936)
• United States
11 Mar 11
I think it's stupid, to be honest. First, not all children learn the same way or at the same rate so they're not all going to get the best scores, no matter how much the teacher works with them. Also, this makes cheating by the teacher tempting. I read a report that claimed there were teachers who cheated when they graded students' papers and gave them better grades than they deserved because it reflected on the teachers better.
Anyway, young teachers do not equal good teachers, necessarily, so what's the point? Better to encourage experienced teachers to teach rather than play games with their salaries.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
11 Mar 11
I would favor a pre and post testing situation. Students are tested at the start of the school year and again at the end. This could also be used to help determine if the student pass to the next grade or not.
Rather than relying on testing I would like to see the parents become responsible for their children's education. Let the parents select the school and give the school the right to refuse a student.
@tkonlinevn (6357)
• Vietnam
11 Mar 11
This bill can make some negative things such as cheating on the test's core. This is not good for student's development. I don't vote!
@scentcastle (241)
• Philippines
11 Mar 11
That's quite a difficult situation for all teachers. They are already having some hard time on teaching a lot of kids and still do a lot of work after class hours and sometimes they are underpaid. But the proposal is quite good as well 'cause teachers will do their best to be more creative in teaching young students out there. Here in our country, some don't tech so well. They really don't care at times whether a kid is improving or not. Only a few teachers really teach well. So maybe if this proposition will help lift up the quality of education, then that would be great.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
11 Mar 11
hello vjenk. Teachers pay should be based on more than standardized testing. If it is just based on standardized testing hen all the teachers would be just teaching the kids the test and I know that many are already doing that for funding from the program "No Child left behind" And yes some students do freeze up when it comes to tests. I have two grandchildren that do not do well on tests. I don't have any idea how to evaluate teachers except maybe on their students reading skills.
@Liliac26 (557)
• Romania
11 Mar 11
I don't think it's fair. There are so many other factors that could influence that result. Not all students are equally gifted or come from good environments. Even luck could be a factor. Plus, a teacher should do much more for his students that teach them how to do well in a test.
@soapies1973 (931)
• United States
10 Mar 11
Each child is different. Maybe some students can't perform as well. So no not fair.
