Michigan Votes Forum

 Merit pay?  We are proposing cuts in transportation, closng schools, higher class sizes?  Where do you expect merit pay to come from?   Is this kind of proposal a promise in your campaign to be on the side of education?  I have listen to parents weep over the closing of their schools and kindergarteners being bussed for over an hour each way tonight.    Are you in touch with the reality of the funding cuts public education are being subjected to?     If you want this kind of mandate, fund it. 

 Ideally, the total amount of pay would be the same.  Teachers of lesser quality would be payed less while better teachers would make more.

 Merit pay fails to address the unfair advantages some wealthier schools with lower risk students have over poor schools.  Schools who have more funds can DO MORE!  The way our schools are funded at this point is inequitable, and therefore, comparing teacher to teacher is a flawed system.  Poorer schools that offer lower pay to teachers would be at a disadvantage to attract talented teachers...which is what they need if risk factors for failure are elevated.