I think it's about time we start paying teachers based on merit instead of how long they've been in the system. I also don't think senority should be a factor in who gets hired or laid off. I know of a few young, innovative teachers who lost their jobs due to budget cuts. I've also had my fair share of teachers who were two or three years away from retirement and felt that all there was left to do was sit on their rear ends and didn't teach much.

If we really want our best and brightest to go into teaching, then we need to start treating them with a lot more respect.

I've also had my fair share of teachers who were two or three years away from retirement and felt that all there was left to do was sit on their rear ends and didn't teach much.

We had one like that a couple years ago. I was sooooo glad when she left. Anyway, I'm tired of bad teachers, so I say merit, but I'd want to make sure that getting stuck with a few kids who are just not going to do well in school wouldn't hamper anything. Some kids could have the greatest teacher in the world and still not understand anything. Shouldn't be a strike against the teacher.

I also think teachers should be paid based on how well they teach. Like Cathy said though, it's a slippery slope, because you can have an amazing teacher, with horrible students who are just unwilling to learn, so I think that could complicate things. There are many cases though where you know a teacher is not doing a good job, and in that situation, I think paying based on performance is a good thing. I had a teacher that was incredible, and changed my life, and I'm sure she changed the lives of many others over the years. I also had a teacher that didn't even seem to care about his students, and sat down reading through most of class, instead of teaching. I always found it unfair that the male teacher who did hardly anything, most likely got paid more than my female teacher who teached her ass off!! So yes, I'm definitely for teachers being paid based on performance!!

Along with the regular courses I think it is time public schools taught students a trade or something they could use in the real world!!

Absolutely teachers should be paid based on how well they teach instead of senority! A teacher that can make it worth a student's time to learn is worth his/her weight in gold!

As a teacher myself, I understand that there are many teachers who just don't give a hoot about what they are supposed to be doing. I also know there are a lot of teachers who really are not qualified or just don't have that special something needed to be a good teacher. Those people should be the ones losing their jobs as districts face budget cuts and positions are eliminated. Tenure needs to be done away with!

I think the reason poor teachers are kept around has to do with the fact that there are not a lot of applicants for jobs and then when we face a budget shortfall (like this upcoming school year will see) then those terrible teachers have been allowed to stay long enough to have tenure and can't be fired. It's frustrating (I am saying this as someone who DOES have tenure, but would give it up if things were done more fairly.)

I also know there a lot of good teachers out there who have worked for years making a lot less than they deserve. Because of that the salary thing is different in my opinion. I do think teachers who have been a the profession longer deserve more pay. If we get rid of the bad teachers, there shouldn't be any of those "close to retirement so I don't care anymore" teachers anyway. And as a teacher for English Language Learners, Learning Disabled, and Emotionally Disturbed students I don't think my kids test scores make me a poor teacher, just like the gifted teacher's tests scores don't make her a master educator. If salary is to be fairly based on merit then districts will have to look at individual progress of each student in a teacher's classroom and I don't think that would ever happen. Too much work for the higher-ups! :)