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Gov. Vetoes Teacher Merit Pay Bill
April 15, 2010
Calling it “significantly flawed,” but saying he believes in the goal, Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a highly controversial teacher merit pay bill on Thursday.
The measure was a top priority of many of his fellow Republicans in the Legislature. “This bill has deeply and negatively affected the morale of our teachers, parents and students,” Crist said. “They do not believe their voices were heard.”
Crist said he knew that his critics would say the move was politically motivated, and Crist denied that. “This thing was rushed through,” Crist said. “It has everything to do with the children of Florida.”
The legislation would link teacher salary increases to student performance on standardized exams, essentially abolishing any form of tenure. Representatives of the teachers’ union, the superintendents association and the school board association have all said they agree with the measure in concept, but its implementation could create major problems for districts around the state and cause major divisiveness between administrators and educators.
Opponents of the legislation have said repeatedly that external factors affecting students, such as socioeconomics or a bad family situation, could have major impacts on a child’s ability to perform and could hurt a teacher’s ability to earn a higher salary over time.
Pictured: Gov. Charlies Crist announces his veto of SB6, a teacher merit pay bill, at a news conference Thursday morning in Tallahassee. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The News Service Florida contributed to this report.
Comments
19 Responses to “Gov. Vetoes Teacher Merit Pay Bill”
I find myself in the rare position of applauding Gov. Crist. I am glad that he vetoed this quagmire of a bill. If the State Legislators want to do something to improve education, then they should focus on charter schools (yes, they work), local school control, and no tenure for educators. Another thing that would benefit everyone greatly is if teachers unions were actually more than just bargaining units. The teachers unions are a fraud perpetrated on teachers – they have little power other than to increase the cost of doing business (educating our youth) while reducing the quality of the product. How about throwing the parents that can’t control their kids a lifeline and allow for disciplinary actions that will place the wayward youth in something called “Reform School” – compulsory education and zero tantrums (aka “fun”).
REGARDING:
“Kids that can’t be taught? Parents are at fault? Why not fire these no account lazy quitters (teachers who say can’t, can’t, can’t, and won’t) and replace them with 10 buck an hour babysitters. Results won’t be any worse and tax payers save tons of money…. Teachers are worthless quitters that can’t teach these kids no matter what they do?”
Did they really say that or are you reading that into it?
Consider a one hundred question test. To get an A you need to answer what? 94 questions correctly?
Now instead of the test being composed of 100 questions, let it be composed of 100 students. To do well, all but six have to do perfectly.
Now tell me, will you receive an A if more than six refuse to learn, are unable to learn, are not present to learn or any combination thereof? And what if the others don’t do perfectly? What if half of them make C or B on your test?
Is that a fair test?
According to Governor Crist, this bill–as written–would not even take into account the ESE children.
I’m sure there were other factors but that should give you pause.
I imagine you are right about better use of resources if you hand the worst ones over to baby sitters, but I’m not sure you would save any money. Assume 25 students per sitter and 8 hours per day for 180 days and just a dollar per child and you are looking at $36,000 per sitter per year plus all the taxes and fringe benefits which would go with the job–assuming you could fill it. It’s reasonable to assume most sitters wouldn’t try to handle that many for any amount of money or do it for so little per child.
If you’ve completely given up, the more reasonable path would be to leave them in the capable hands of their loving parents.
But what if they haven’t given up and know they do some good? What if they are working their hearts out for what would the simplest gains for other children? They are only called failures by those who don’t understand why they didn’t make rocket scientists out of them. People like you, it seems.
David thinking no silk purse ever began as pig’s ears
and that pig’s ears do exist
Finally, someone get common sense in Tallahassee
Kids that can’t be taught? Parents are at fault? Why not fire these no account lazy quitters (teachers who say can’t, can’t, can’t, and won’t) and replace them with 10 buck an hour babysitters. Results won’t be any worse and tax payers save tons of money.
That is what you are saying, isn’t that what you are really saying Willie B? Teachers are worthless quitters that can’t teach these kids no matter what they do?
Nice.
OK now that Charlie has done the right thing lets get about the business of making Florida a better place to teach and a better place for our children to learn. Some ideas: DISCIPLINE , DISCIPLINE AND MORE DISCIPLINE. If there is one thing that would improve the education business in Florida it would be to have strong policies toward how kids in our schools behave. If a student is a problem with the smooth delivery of the process of learning there should be strong actions to correct the problem. The problem child can’t keep being a distraction to students who come to school prepaired to learn. This isn’t fair to the parents or the students who do the right thing. So what do youdo? First make sure the students know what is expected of them very clearly and plainly at the beginning of the school term. Give them the rules and let them know that there will be none or very little wiggle room about what will be tollerated. They would know the punishment for the problem they cause. Parents who don’t do there job at home will be notified that there is no excuse for their lack of parential obligations. The students WILL follow rules and not disturb the learning process of others or they will be moved to another facility that will not be as liberal as the regular public school. I could go on and on but you get the jest of my thinking.
Are you smarter than a first grader?????? Who hires the chief of police ?The mayor The Govenor The people My child said this was a question like this on FCAT several years ago
I totally agree on the accountability… the idea is a good one, the bill was a horrible one. All SR6 would accomplish is padding the pockets of standardized test makers and textbook companies. How about instead of punishing the good teachers, you reward them? Want a good bonus? Do extra education; initiate a pilot program to lead kids to excel, etc
Principals and school board members just have to grow… backbones… and learn to discipline / terminate teacher’s who consistently underperform.
Once again – Thank you, Gov Crist… I dont’ care if it WAS politically motivated it was the right thing to do.
I am glad that the Governor vetoed the bill. I also agree that we need to stop “Teaching the Test”. The School Districts only see dollar signs. Teachers need to be able teach and not have to worry about if their pupils are going to PASS THE MOST STUPIDEST TEST. Maybe if they were able to teach then our children wouldn’t be so illiterate. Our School District and the State need to look across the nation and look at successful School Districts and find out what they are doing. But you also have to get the parents FULLY involved with their children.(I know that for some that isn’t the easiest thing to accomplish.) If the parents are illiterate and undereducated then help them too. Teachers, Educators, Bus Drivers, and the WHOLE COMMUNITY need to step up and help.
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
I know that this won’t be a popular posting but maybe it will get people thinking.
I agree there should be an easier way to get rid of a bad teacher!! However, you people act like teachers are not held accountable. Hello it is a job just like any other. Teachers have a boss that makes sure they are doing what they need to be.
Way to GO GOVERNOR CRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good for you Mr. Crist. Some parents are interested in their children’s education, but all parents need to be interested and involved in their children’s lives. Parents should help with homework everyday and discuss the day’s events with their children. Children act out because they want attention. Children need to learn the correct way to ask for attention and it needs to be given to them.
What’s this a politician that listens to his constituents! You did the right thing, Charlie.You can be the best teacher in the world, but if a student is not interested in learning, he or she can’t be taught. Some kids have different priorities,if they get no direction at home, a teacher can do little for them. Fifteen percent of the students cause ninty percent of classroom problems,but we are stuck with them.State and federal regulations make it extremely difficult yo remove students who cause most of the problems.
Teachers 1
Children 0
We all lose.
There needs to be accountability for all Teachers but this Bill was not the way to do it. We need to do away with “Teaching to the Test”. Some kids do not test well period. We need to come up with more creative ways for kids to Excel in School. Bring Back PE, Physical Fitness, Art, Music, etc. Let’s make Florida Schools a model for the rest of the World to Follow. I want to see smart, healthy, physically fit kids of Florida take their rightful place as leaders of tomorrow.
Very happy with Gov. Crist right now ! He stood up for what is right for our teachers as well as our students.
If it wasn’t for the teachers union they wouldn’t have anything near what they have now, which isn’t much. So how did the people lose Spineless? Everything is political even in our own family lives. Glad the governor vetoed this bill. They still need to weed out the bad teachers protected by tenure though.
America needs to put the “h” back in Crist!
Yay!!!!!
Come on Charlie boy, we are not stupid, we all know good and well that this was a politically motivated move. Don’t spit in our face and then try to tell us that it is raining. Once again the unions succeed and the people lose. Sad!!!!!!
YEAH! I can’t believe someone actually listened to the people… their BOSS.