Merit based pay for the Education System

I will note that my opponent conceded the point that there are other methods to test a teather's performance. Claims: 1. a. It would be difficult to devise a conversion system b. Schools need a way to see how they measure up to neighboring districts c. This measuring system would be used by governments to grade schools resulting in a loss of funding for unimproving schools. 2. Private schools utilize parent feedback as a measurement; private schools have more resources and less regulation; offer higher starting salaries. 3. Standardized testing has a serious flaw, as we both have noted. 4. Almost every profession is not merit based, though merit plays a role. 5. Teachers would flock to schools with a trend of improvement. 6. College is a great point in providing that more money doesn't necessarily make a better teacher. They are in every school from Harvard to Community Colleges. 7. Rewards do not cross districts and will cause even bigger gaps between districts. 8. Rewards do not create better teachers, just shows who is better at preparing for standardized tests. 9. Emphasis should be on how teachers teach, not rewards. Rebuttal: 1. If the grading scale is devised by each state, then a conversion system would be much less complicated. It is already agreed that a measure would be required in such a system, but it does not follow that such a system would result in a loss in funding for unimproving schools. We are not talking about the school funding here, just the teachers' pay. Schools are already graded and funded based on that grade. I am not saying that is right or wrong, simply that it is a fact. This is another issue that could deserve change, but is unrelated to teacher pay. 2. a. We are agreed that private schools utilize different feedback measures. b. While they do often have more resources available, school funding is not the issue. The issue is teachers' pay. c. I do not see why a higher starting salary is incompatible with merit based pay. 3. My opponent has already conceded this point by agreeing that there are other methods to measure a teacher's performance. 4. I disagree about most jobs. Most professions will get no raise, or a lower raise, based on performance. It is not even necessarily important to note the difference between 'some' and 'almost all'. The fact that a merit based system exists for any profession is proof that said system is not inherently flawed, as my opponent contends. 5. Again, my opponent has already conceded that standardized testing is not the only possible measure of a teacher. Therefore, with other methods, flocking to schools with better standardized test scores would not be benefitial to teachers and thus would not happen to the extent that my opponent claims. Certainly some teachers will seek out 'better' schools, just like some doctors seek out 'better' hospitals, and some lawyers seek out 'better' law firms. 6. College educators also do a great deal of research as well as teach. Some professors are valued more for research than teaching. Therefore it is unfair to compare the two, since teachers do not do research and thus can't be rewarded for it while simultaneously being a 'bad' teacher. 7. Rewards would exist in every district. Some would have better educators than others. This is equally true in the current system. Therefore an overall increase in the gap between districts would not happen. (Resolution not negated) 8. See Rebuttals #3 and #5. (Resolution not negated) 9. Such a curriculum based Education system already exists and shows displays many of the same problems that my opponent claims would result from shifting to a merit based pay scale. Controlling what they teach and how they teach even more would not create better educators. (Resolution negated) Resolved: That attracting better teachers through higher starting pay, merit based pay, and a higher standard of education required of teachers would result in a better education system. I would like to conclude by thanking my opponent for a most entertaining and interesting debate. May the best arguement win.