What would you do for $125,000?
This article from today's New York Times features a charter school in New York City that will pay teachers $125,000 a year, testing the theory that having a great teacher in every classroom is more important than anything else, and that truly competitive salaries will attract great teachers. Making the structure even more radical: The school's principal will start out earning just $90,000. For the school to afford the salaries, classes will have 30 kids apiece, teachers will work longer days and have responsibilities outside the classroom, and there will be fewer social supports.
Want to apply? The Web site for the school, called The Equity Project Charter, is here.
Posted by Sara Neufeld at 10:58 AM | Permalink
| Comments (3)
Categories: Around the Nation, Charter Schools, Teaching
Categories: Around the Nation, Charter Schools, Teaching
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Comments
I think it's a great idea ... I would imagine that they will have many applicants and will be able to pick and choose teachers. Most of us already work incredibly long hours, have responsibilities outside of the classroom, and have 30 students per class anyway.
Do you know whether the principal will be able to fire teachers who aren't living up to their end of the bargain? I guess that question can be at least partially answered by finding out if they are union members.
Posted by: Michelle | March 8, 2008 7:41 AM
what would I, as a teacher do with that money? Hmmm. Pay my bills comes to mind. Something that I cannot currently do on my salary. Ahhh, to dream of earning what others who have worked for the same company do after 15 years of service. My guess is that when you track how salaries increase for that amount of time compared to what people earn after the same amount of time in other industries you might be shocked. I wonder what it would look like to peer back 15 years at the salaries of the school board members in any system in Md. and compare there current salaries change to that of the teachers they work for... Again, it is to dream.
Posted by: Teacher643 | March 8, 2008 9:33 AM
Correction, Teacher643. The School Board, like teachers, work for students and the greater community at large-- they (School Board Members) do not work for teachers.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 9, 2008 11:48 PM