Merit Pay

Corporate Educational Endeavors: What will Ensure Education Reform a Teacher/Union Leader's Perspective

jruss — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:49:41 -0500

Al Shanker cites the corporate model as one that might help restructure and re-conceive public education. Profits and other incentives encourage corporations to change their practices to achieve the desired bottom line. With education, however, Shanker argues that innovation has been discouraged despite the failure to educate students. Further, Shanker argues that colleges should hold students to higher standards, and employers should consider high school performance in hiring so as to encourage high school students to work harder. He also argues that teachers should be given incentives too. read more »

Forum: “Where Albert Shanker Stands”

jruss — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:24:19 -0500

In this interview, Al Shanker answers questions about a number of topics including teacher shortage; teacher recruitment; teacher pay; use of technology in teaching; focus on developing students' critical thinking skills; teachers' involvement in unions, politics, and strikes; working with the Reagan administration; and merit pay.

Good Morning, America: “Politics in Education”

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:32:03 -0500

Al Shanker and NEA President Mary Hatwood Futrell, are interviewed about the role of education in the 1984 presidential campaign. They discuss whether the candidates are truly discussing policy or merely spouting rhetoric. They also weigh in on issues like the extent to which the federal government should play a role in education, merit pay, teacher recruitment, and funding.

Marcia Reece Interview with Shanker on Where We Stand

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:31 -0400

Marcia Reese, assistant to the president of the AFT, interviews Shanker about his column ‘Where We Stand’ The interview moves further on the development of Al’s thinking via the column with various education reforms from open classrooms to peer review. They also discuss Shanker’s education, early career as a teacher and forming the United Federation of Teachers.

Meet the Press

jruss — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:21:18 -0500

Al Shanker takes questions from a panel of interviewers on topics including merit pay, teacher recruitment and retention, President Reagan's record on education, federal funding for education, AFT political endorsements, affirmative action and racial quotas, teacher education and examination, and incentives.

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT): "Making of a Profession"

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:22:24 -0500

In this speech, Al Shanker discusses the need for teachers to make their profession into one seen as just that: a profession. He says that in order for teachers to assert themselves as experts who should be consulted on education policy decisions, teachers' unions need to move beyond collective bargaining to focus on professionalization. Shanker argues that should be trusted to make decisions without supervision and legislation. This trust, he argues, would foster enthusiasm and pride in teachers, and new teachers could be more easily recruited. read more »

Remarks at the Math/Science Education Action Conference

jruss — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:07:00 -0500

Al Shanker discusses America's low educational standards as compared to other nations. While he emphasizes students' lack of achievement in math and science, he states that students are performing poorly in all subjects. read more »

Statement before the Democratic Platform Committee

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:14:53 -0500

Al Shanker laments the Reagan Administration's education policies and implores the Democratic Party to refute them in its platform. Specific policies he deplores are tax exemptions on private school tuition, a voucher program, and merit pay for teachers. Shanker urges the Democrats to hold two goals for education: giving aid to people who need it and improving the quality of education. He mentions that raising teacher salaries is important in improving education quality, while noting that much of that policy will be set at the state level.

The Dangers of not Having any New Ideas

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:29:48 -0500

Al Shanker states that teachers should take charge of education reform rather than waiting for legislators with little to no expertise to write mandates that make little sense and are nearly impossible to meet. He cites three areas that should be addressed: increasing teacher pay, reducing class size, and giving teachers more time to grade work and plan lessons. Yet, Shanker said this would cost more money than they can ever realistically expect to receive. So what is the answer, he asks? read more »

The Macneil-Lehrer Report: Grading Teachers

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:27:17 -0500

Al Shanker is interviewed along with Paul Salmon, head of the American Association of School Administrators, and Virginia Koehler, from Parents United for Full Funding, a parent group in Washington, D.C. The topic is merit pay for teachers. Koehler is in favor of tying teacher evaluations to merit pay, and is pushing for a measure to enact this. Shanker discusses why he thinks merit pay won't work, arguing that what teachers really need to improve the quality of education is greater support. Salmon agrees with Shanker for the most part, but sees some benefits to merit pay.

Urban Review Interview

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:04:10 -0500

During this interview, Al Shanker answers questions about a wide variety of educational topics including teacher examination and qualification; decentralization of school boards; community involvement in public schools; minority presence in school administrative and supervisory positions; how to measure achievement; requirements for teacher certification; merit pay; tenure; the use of paraprofessionals in schools; and accountability.

US News & World Report: “Want Better Teachers? Raise Pay, Stop Classroom Violence”

jruss — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:23:21 -0500

This interview asks Al Shanker to discuss a variety of topics including merit pay, teacher recruitment, teacher salary, student classroom disruption, how to create a good teaching environment, and measuring teacher competency.