Comments on: Thousands Call For Governor To Veto Teacher Merit Pay Bill

By: A. Davis

A. Davis — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:37:26 +0000

Wow I guess this means that children will still be left behind! If anyone has had to deal with an ese child they could tell you that at some point in an IEP meeting the teachers and whoever else is not on the childs side lies and says O YES THEY ARE DOING GOOD .

By: Willie B. Posted

Willie B. Posted — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:40:05 +0000

If this passes it should be for all employees.This means that if there are too many murders in Escambia county for a given year, then the Sheriff doesn’t get paid. Pot holes didn’t get fixed,Legislators lose thrir job.
They want education to perform like a business. I was in manufacturing for 30 years and if you had a worker who was not interesting in performing, you got rid of him.Companies also pick who they want to hire. Give teachers this option and they can compete with the rest of the world.
All you commentors who want teachers to compete with the rest of the world, please compare your wages and working conditions with your Korean, or Chinese counterparts in whatever line of work you are in,assuming that you work.

By: sunshine

sunshine — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:24:20 +0000

I’m a teacher and as long as I do my job, this bill will not affect me negatively. It sounds kind of bad to be upset because your students have to make a learning gain. Shouldn’t they? This may force teachers to find additional ways to get the message across, for everyone learns differently. Sometimes we get comfortable with “the way things are”, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing.

By: Uv Gotoo B. Kiddingme

Uv Gotoo B. Kiddingme — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:26:58 +0000

Nice to see the teachers, their union, and the folks they have brainwashed on here blaming everyone but the teachers for the failures of our education system. It is clear, also, that the vast majority of you have simply not read this bill. Here are few points you may want to consider if you have an open mind.
1. The time kids spend in school has a dramatic and major effect on whether they succeed and can become good parents for the rest of their lives.
2. Tenured teachers do indeed keep their tenure under this bill. But after a 5 year period if they have not acheived learning gains, their state certification will be revoked and they will have to apply to be reinstated. I.E. they will be fired.
3. There are no pay cuts in this bill. None.
4. Any teacher that leaves because of this bill is by definition NOT a “good” teacher. Just like the slugs in Miami that staged the sick out, they care not about educating children.

That should get you started.

By: george

george — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:40:01 +0000

ok folks think about it, public schools HAVE to take ALL kids, smart, dumb, handicapped, trouble makers, you name it. the kids from good homes that have parents who care are going to get an education, the rest will drop out or quit. i’m not saying there aren’t bad teachers; but there are bad mechanics, doctors, lawyers, governors, senators, preachers, you name it. are we singling them out?never been a teacher, would you like to try to teach say 30 teenagers per class all day long for 9 months. don’t think so. get off their backs, lack of discipline at home, or should i say poor parenting is the problem. get off the teachers back.

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:57:46 +0000

This is for all who are complaining about tenure. Guess what, the teachers who are not doing their job will still be under tenure and can’t be fired. So, tell me how this fixes the problem? They may never get a raise, but they will still have a job!!

By: Old Cherokee

Old Cherokee — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:29:56 +0000

To all the teachers out there, QUIT WHINING!!!!! You are an employee of the state. The state is your BOSS. When someone is your boss, you do what he/she says. or you lose your job. Think about it, if you worked for the bank and they changed the way they do things, what would you do?

Those who say there will be a mass exodus of teachers from Florida, I say go ahead, do what you gotta do, we’ll deal with it, just PUH-LEASE, QUIT WHINING.

I am “Old Cherokee” and I approve this message.

By: interested reader

interested reader — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:50:20 +0000

If this bill passes we are going to have a mass exodus of good teachers to other states. In every class there are children who cannot make the grade. This is NOT always the teachers fault. Family life, belittling of someone, hearing, speech, and just plain not caring by the student can sometime be the cause. Let’s get behind our teachers and help them instead of bashing them. Parents, grandparents, friends and anyone who just wants to help can find a school that needs volunteers. Be part of the solution instead of the problem.

By: AL

AL — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:25:47 +0000

actually I am not a teacher and I am completely against this policy. If these bozos can’t run their own jobs, how are they going to run someone else’s?
I agree with limiting the unions – that way poor performing teacher’s can be booted by their administration without a bunch of hooey…. but refusing tenure, not recognizing additional education and denying the effect of lazy ne’er do well parents is ridiculous.

By: Uv Gotoo B. Kiddingme

Uv Gotoo B. Kiddingme — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:17:24 +0000

Let’s be honest about this. It isn’t the “people of Florida” who are against this. It is the teachers and their unions. Period. The unions have been able to mobilize in a short time frame 10s of thousands of folks, most who like posters on this article, don’t even know what is in it. Well, I for one hope Crist does the right thing and signs this bill into law without delay. The teachers’ unions and academia in general have unarguably failed our citizens. Especially our children. If they are so dead set agianst it, that speaks for itself. But read SB6 before letting the teachers and their union influence your opinion. This bill does not cut anyone’s pay, it only requires students learning gains be used as a litmus test for 50% of future pay increases. A tiny bit of accountability never made someone do their job worse, it only has an opportunity to expose someone who is not getting their job done.