[quote=CA renter]
As for teacher raises, raises aren’t particularly necessary given the current economic problems, but I do favor cost-of-living increases. Raises would be nice from time to time in order to reward good teachers (I have no problem with merit pay above a baseline salary). The truth is that teaching has a very high attrition rate, and it would be nice to be able to retain some of the better teachers.
“Ingersoll extrapolated and then later confirmed that anywhere between 40 and 50 percent of teachers will leave the classroom within their first five years (that includes the nine and a half percent that leave before the end of their first year.) Certainly, all professions have turnover, and some shuffling out the door is good for bringing in young blood and fresh faces. But, turnover in teaching is about four percent higher than other professions.”
I’m sure the attrition rates are high in the first five years. Many teachers didn’t know what they were getting themselves into and at that point they don’t have any significant vested benefits they’re losing by quitting. It’s when you make it to 7-10 years that there’s a significant carrot in the terms of retirement benefits that means you’ll probably stay even if you don’t like what your doing anymore. It’s probably why we end up with so much mid management staff like assistant vice principles and other administrative staff working as “special” coordinators.
All that staff is likely veteran teachers that didn’t really want to be the in classroom anymore but didn’t want to give up the promise of a good retirement. I don’t blame the employees for acting in that manner. It makes perfect sense, but it isn’t a situation that provides an optimum use of our tax dollars to educate children.
