He has made his proposals known and he is in full gear pushing them through Sacramento. Political observers are certain that he will get his way and incentives will be approved by the legislature. And I am certain that incentives will motivate good teachers to choose teaching in low performing schools. They will also motivate students. But, I am more concerned in seeing good teachers remain in teaching.
Good teachers deserve incentives to remain within the teaching ranks.
Teachers are victims of a static salary schedule. Teachers reach a dead end when they hit the top of the salary schedule and, regardless of excellence or quality of teaching, their salary is static for as long as they are teaching. The only way for such a teacher to earn a higher salary in education is to enter the rank of school administrator. It is unfortunate when our best and brightest teachers leave teaching children and the classroom in order to make more money as administrators. And while I support Governor Davis and his incentives, I wish that he would look at incentives to keep good teachers in the classrooms where they can make a real difference in the education of children and the reform of public schools.