What Value Does Society Place on Quality Education?

How do most industries reward exceptional performance? Higher wages and bonuses, right? Some industries even reward failing performance and reward senior employees just for being there. Why should teaching be any different?

There is a New York City charter school that is trying out increasing teacher salaries to match that of what similar professionals would earn. Teachers will be paid $120,000 a year in an attempt to demonstrate that teacher salaries have a far greater positive impact on the quality of education than small class size. This is not to say that giving this kind of salary to just anybody with a teaching certificate will net the gains sought. Rather by offering this salary, a school is able to draw a higher caliber of talent and some people with families to support could afford to teach where before it involved holding down a second job or opting to stay in a more lucrative field.

I have a belief that society does not place such a high value on teacher compensation for several reasons. Primarily, the public is very familiar with education. We all went through school, personally known teachers, and think we have a good idea of what a teacher does. Unlike doctors and lawyers, we all have experienced schools and therefore the perception is there is no mystery to the job...how to teach appears to be common knowledge. Society does not pay a premium price on jobs that are thought to be common knowledge. Jobs that if given sufficient time and motivation one could do themselves just as well as the next person.

Another reason I feel teaching has gotten a bad rap and compensation had stagnated is the way some (and I mean few) teachers work an act. They do not act professionally, they do not dress professionally, and they do not represent the industry well. There are lawyers and doctors who fail to act professionally and they are generally put out of business once enough clients are fed up. Bad teachers are not easy to get rid of and the standards for assessing a teachers work are not consistent.

I hope the NYC experiment works and demonstrates that higher pay does yield higher quality education. I believe it should. Teachers who are not over tired from working two jobs I am sure not only feel better but work better. Drawing into the classroom America's best and brightest will produce more bright students who have the skills needed to succed.

Stumbled Upon Health Blog

While working on some research regarding my grandfather's cancer, I stumbled upon this health blog.  It is really well written and has some good info that is helpful for anybody.  Like particularly like today's post, about a drink that uses Jay Robb's whey protein (which I got into using when I was at Whole Foods) cocoa and coffee.  Anybody who knows me well knows that if you add coffee to it, I'll probably love it.  

So, if you are needing to justify your coffee and chocolate habits, jump over to healthy fellow for some good information and recipes.

To support your coffee habit, click here.

To support your hot cocoa habit, click here.

Have a great weekend!

Natural Medicine Options for Cancer

Recently, my family and Nicole's family has been plagued by several cases of Cancer. Nicole's mother is continuing to recover from breast cancer and my grandfather in Ohio is currently in a long battle with both prostate and bladder cancers. He has changed from wanting to give up (he is 84) to wanting to fight on. My mother and I urged him to at least see a new doctor. He has decided to use a combination of surgery and natural medicine to get past this current round of bladder cancer.

While working for Whole Foods as a buyer in the natural medicine and personal care areas I learned a good amount about natural remedies and found this health forum to be of particular good use as a reference and for support. I find myself revisiting Natural Medicine Talk now as I try to help family members get though this tough period of life. Next week I will be heading out to Ohio to be with my grandfather as he goes back into surgery on Wednesday.

Preparing for Grad School? Use Vocaboly

I recently found out I will have to retake the GRE to enter most PhD programs. While tinkering with this idea I was exploring some ways to brush up on some vocabulary. I found a great program, Vocaboly Vocabulary Builder, and thought I'd give it a shot.

This program was designed for those looking to take most college tests, such as SAT, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT. The program was easy to download and worked well. The user interface is easy to get into. I found most helpful the Star War Game which had a secondary benefit of helping people improve their typing and spelling skills.

My plans to move on to a PhD program are on hold as I continue to move along in my teaching career, but for others looking to duck out of the workforce and return to school, or if you are gearing up to graduate from high school and need to prepare for the SAT, Vocaboly is a good program to use.

Last Day of School

Tomorrow is the last day of school for us at The Children's School, a day that will be bittersweet for me.  I have really enjoyed working with this group of kids this year and will miss seeing them learn and grow.  However, all school years must come to an end.  

We are all off to new a great things next year.  Most of the class will be returning to CSOP to join the school's new fifth grade teacher, Paul Grajnert.  Peter will be moving back into the public schools where he is going to enjoy science and technology.  Chris' family has moved to Chicago where he hopes to attend a math and science academy.  I am moving on to teach middle school for UNO Charter Schools.     

Best of luck to all of you and thank you for a memoriable experience.