There is reference to some interesting studies about using financial incentives to attract new teachers in areas where teachers are needed, and the suggestion the same can be done to motivate older teachers. I'm interested to know what the feelings of prospective teachers are on the system we use in BC - the single salary scale which pays teachers based on their level of education. Is this an effective means of ensuring we are paying the best teachers, (definition from: SAEE "Alternative Teacher Compensation Systems" 2003, "...teachers that are able to motivate student learning...") what they deserve? How does the current system in BC effect the hiring and retention of quality teachers? My understanding of the issue may be oversimplified, but it would seem the unions position of salary increases across the board may be untenable, particularly in a province that is experiencing an oversupply of graduates to the profession as the BCTF has indicated.
Some other interesting perspectives worth mentioning:
- teachers should be paid as much as holders of graduate degrees in other professions including lawyers, whose average salaries are roughly twice as much as teachers.
- benefits - who pays for benefits?
- Class sizes, in relation to salary?
It's a dense issue (no pun there), and I have to go to 787 and hand in my paper, so I can't flesh it out as much as I'd like to but check this out: www.saee.ca/upload/018.pdf if this interests you at all.
see you in class -Blair
I know that on the East coast (though I will have to research the exact details later), I as a beginning teacher with two degrees would have to be hired (by law) at a higher pay than someone that has two majors in the one degree (even if they are the same two focuses). I am unsure if that is the case on this coast as well, but if it is, then it may prove to be more of a detriment to me getting a job. I’ll have a look for the exact details on this tomorrow, and post again when I have more information.
ReplyDeleteThoughts,
ReplyDeleteNichelle,
I'm not sure what your point is? Are you saying the teacher with two majors is more deserves higher pay? Is more qualified? Why do you think that, if that's the case? What do you base that assumption on?
More education - re: piling up degrees isn't always a plus...some districts may turn out to not have the budget to hire the more "qualified" teachers...and pick the "less degree'd" one...based on cost alone.