Want administrators to perform? Reward them

We've heard much talk about merit pay for teachers and rewards for students.

How about for school administrators?

A local Duval County nonprofit group called the Alliance for World Class Education has issued a report suggesting that Duval's district-level administrators and secretaries should be paid for their performance, too.

The idea that someone deserves a raise as an entitlement for having the job must go, Gloria Chandler, the study's chairwoman, told the Florida Times-Union. Folks need to earn their increases. And if someone gets demoted, the person's salary often should go down, too, the group said.

Chandler figured it would take "managerial courage" to put the recommendations into play. We'll be watching. Wonder if other Florida school district leaders will take note and consider the same "courage," too.

Comments

[4:34 is a public school teacher]

Thanks!

-4:34

[publicschoolteacher]

No, I get it, and it was funny. I was just adding to the absurdity, I thought.

I always vote down merit pay. There is no way to measure what is the product of effective teaching, responsible parenting, or (in Joe's case) highly motivated students. I agree that the reward already in place (seeing my students succeed) is the greatest reward there is. Well, getting to take a little credit for that is!

I just hope my own children are successful enough to put me in a nice nursing home when I'm old!

[BBMOM]

4:34 and Sarcasm is appreciated.

Thank goodness some people can read between the lines. You understood exactly what I was saying and 4:34 that was exactly the response I was looking for.

The only reward I need is to see them be successful and productive adults. Happy with themselves and content that
whatever they have they earned.

As far as you Joe - You need to take a chill pill. I am not greedy and I always help out when and where I can. You actually graduated in the top 5 of your class? Of how many? Six? It must be all book smarts and no street or common sense. Maybe you should have run away.

Rewarding anyone in the school system for doing what they should be doing is absurd. You give someone a reward for going beyond the expectations you set for them. I set very high expectations for my kids and the Administration, teachers and staff also should have high expectations. Their reward should be the satisfaction of seeing their students succeed. (If only they had the backing of higher ups.) But that's another blog.

[Sarcasm is appreciated]

BBMOM - I get what you said. It is something I would say.

For some reason, using absurdity (reward pay for parents) to point out an absurd concept (reward pay for teachers, administrators or students) just never seems to be understood by the ones that are so intent on defended their existence.

Absence of abstract thinking abilities must be a hindrance to publicschoolteacher and Joe.

[Joe]

BBMOM,
Stop being greedy, my parents never helped me with my work and I graduated in the top 5 of my class. If I found out they got paid for my efforts, the pressure would be so hard to live with I'd probably ran away.

Now I am taking care of them and so I am sure they are glad paying parents is stupid - just like your response.

[publicschoolteacher]

And he or she will not be living with you into their thirties! Another money saving reward!

BB,
Your child will grow up to be successful and take care of you when you are old. There's your reward.

[BBMOM]

What about Parent rewards. If we get our kids to school on time, they are not disruptive and don't get into trouble. And they never get below a "B" on their report cards? I believe we deserve a reward for that.

[John Perry]

Merit pay, pay-for-performance, whatever you want to call it, it doesn't work. Again, let me recommend a great book by Alfie Kohn called Punished by Rewards. Kohn reviews the substantial research that proves the asertion in my first sentence.