Brewer: Make performance part of formula for Arizona school funding

5 comments:

• tularockstar posted at 2:49 pm on Wed, Jan 16, 2013.

  Posts: 24

  Governor Brewer is right! Why are we keeping teachers who don't care about their job or not performing? American public education has declined drastically in the past 25 years, and we need to do some thing--instead of allowing ourselves to be bullied by the teachers Union! Enough! Our schools are no longer teaching kids, but more like babysitting them! Big unions and special interest groups are now indoctrinating our kids with their own liberal ideologies, instead of teaching the facts! One can only hope that we still value our kids as future leaders to take our country forward.

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• samkat posted at 5:37 pm on Wed, Jan 16, 2013.

  Posts: 1163

  I will concur when she makes charter schools follow the same rules.

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• mesateacher posted at 6:05 pm on Wed, Jan 16, 2013.

  Posts: 175

  Oh, yeah, this is a great idea -- not! All you supporters: I want you to step and explain, in clear, unambiguous detail just how this is done. The measure will without doubt be based on two areas: math and English. Where does the band director, the PE coach, the home ec teacher fit in? What is their responsibility? Then, can you do anything to guarantee that the students coming to a low-income area school are prepared, ready and as eager to learn as their counterparts at students in high-income areas? No you can't. All tests scores tell you is where the rich kids live. This is a stupid, stupid idea. Jeez I'm glad I'm retired.

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• Mike McClellan posted at 6:12 pm on Wed, Jan 16, 2013.

  Posts: 779

  mesateacher's right on -- if she really wants to do this, only elementary teachers and secondary English and math teachers should be eligible for the moolah. And if she doesn't do this right, only the rich kids' schools will get the money.

  I taught at a school that was, at one time, a "rich kids' school" -- our kids always did well on every measure. But the school changed as the neighborhood changed. And scores dropped, even though the teachers' efforts hadn't changed.

  So if by some miracle Brewer comes up with a plausible plan, it better focus on growth and not on just the scores.

  But if we really want to do this right, dump the bad teachers -- get rid of tenure and ensure that good teachers can't be canned by vindictive principals -- and pay all teachers better. And consider paying an incentive to the best teachers working at the most difficult schools.

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• Bluepoet posted at 10:50 am on Thu, Jan 17, 2013.

  Posts: 438

  Mike, you want not only specifics, but a comprehensive plan with a goal? Are you totally mad?! [rolleyes]

  Heck, for now, I'm simply glad the rhetoric is there...that, at least, is a starting point.

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