It’s Teacher Depreciation Week in FloridaPicture courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel education blogHow do we love teachers? Let us count the ways:
- You’ll be paying 3 percent of your salary toward retirement under a change in law expected to sail through this week as the Legislature wraps up its deeds for this year.
- The school year is almost over, and your job may be, too. Steep cuts to education by the Legislature have school districts considering where to tighten their belts – and some teachers may be let go.
- Even those who survive the budget cuts may no longer be able to count on having jobs, as the state moves toward a new merit pay plan passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor. Teachers’ whose students don’t score high enough on tests will be shown the door.
- Class sizes are likely to get larger under the Legislature’s latest plan to get around voters’ reaffirmation of the Class Size Amendment last fall. Teachers say they do a better job with fewer students.
The education commissioner approves of all these things listed, but he takes time to say how much he appreciates teachers. Sure he does. :shrug:
All I see on the news today is how wonderfully well students statewide did on the FCAT Writing test. I want to make a bet. When the reading and math and science scores come in, they won't be as glowing.
Call me a pessimist, but too much success simply can not be tolerated. If public schools do too well, Rick Scott won't be able to get through his plan to give each student $5500 to go to school wherever they wish.