Education Fri Jan 13 2012

How About a Meritorious Workplace in Our Schools?

By Katie Osgood

I am not a gambler. I hate the uncertainty of betting money on something unpredictable. It makes me feel jittery and off-balance. I have a teacher personality in that respect. I like structure and routine. That is different from say some day trader who takes risks on a daily basis. I'm sure those Type A, go-getter-guys are really good at those risky, high-profile jobs. Some people thrive on uncertainty and the chance to make it big. Kinda like they like cocaine. Same chemical in the brain, no?

I don't work that way. And you know what? Thank god I don't! That's the reason why I chose teaching as a profession, at least in part. See, some of what makes me good at my job is that I provide a little space of stability for my students coming from chaotic, troubled backgrounds. If one of those day traders were to do my job, I'm pretty sure they would not only fail miserably, they would probably scare the children.

Different strokes for different folks is all I'm saying.

But for some reason, people making education policy in this country keep on trying to bring merit pay, with its big bonuses for success and punishment for failure into teaching.

What. A. Dumb. Idea.

First of all, the idea of merit pay only really would work if teachers were not already giving their all. That is, if teachers were purposely holding back what they could be doing for their students 'cause, well, they didn't feel like it.

Um, have these guys ever met a real, live, flesh-and-blood teacher?

Almost every teacher I know gives 110% everyday for their kids. These are the kind of people who spend thousands of dollars of their own money to supply their classrooms. You see, the way it works is that the day traders get brand-new bathrooms at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on the taxpayer dime while CPS teachers supply their own soap for the kids to wash their hands. Yeah, that's fair. But teachers do it because it's the right thing to do.

Those day traders also seem to have a lot of time to go out and party hard after work. Most teachers spend their evenings and weekends-- their own personal time, mind--planning lessons, grading papers, calling parents, and gathering supplies.

That's the kind of people teachers are. Good people. Caring people. Selfless people. People who are not about the money.

And I don't want that to change. I don't want the money grubbers in my profession.

So you know what? Get that crappy bonus pay away from me. I like that teachers aren't motivated solely by money. (Pay me enough, and then let it be, I say.) I like that we aren't gambling-loving fiends. I like that we tend to be meeker, more reflective, more collaborative, more humble people.

You know what I want instead of the promise of some extra pay? I want a workplace that is actually functional. I want a boss who doesn't berate me and even thinks to give a compliment now and then. I want to be rewarded for qualities like loyalty and collegiality, not my drive to screw over the teacher next to me in order to push up meaningless test scores. I want the number of years I choose to stick around the school or district to mean something.

I want a workplace that doesn't suck! I don't want to be overwhelmed because there is too much to do and not enough time. I don't want to wake up in the morning dreading the day ahead. I hated that when I worked for CPS, the work was never, ever finished. I hated that the kids had so many problems, I needed about 10 of me to meet their needs. I want to feel effective, I want the support to be effective, and I want my effectiveness to be acknowledged. Just not with money.

And nevermind that merit had been tried again and again, and it has NEVER worked. I'm not even talking about the buckets of research (See Larry Ferlazzo's comprehensive list for The Best Resources For Learning Why Teacher Merit Pay Is A Bad Idea).

I know I was a little hard on the day traders here. Ever since I found out that that terrible man who is now our mayor used to be one, I lost any respect I had for the profession. That, and I was a little peeved after you fellows helped break the global economy. Not cool. (S'ok though, we'll just tell everyone it's teacher pensions that are bleeding budgets dry.) Sorry guys, but you're the kind of people who can take it, yeah?

I suppose there's a place for the day trader types. Just not in the classroom.