Much is written, especially by “school reformers” about the importance of merit pay and how much more money will motivate us all to work harder and better. I’m all for a fair and just wage, but working conditions are a key element of teacher retention and a quality education for students.
Here are my choices for The Best Posts & Articles About The Importance Of Teacher (& Student) Working Conditions:
I’ve got to start off with a great xtranormal video created by Dan Brown called “Keeping Teachers Around.”
I worked with a group of talented inner-city teachers from throughout the United States last year through the Center For Teaching Quality. We created a pretty thorough report, “Transforming School Conditions: Building Bridges to the Education System That Students And Teachers Deserve.” You can read my summary of the report in The Washington Post, as well as finding a link to the entire study.
Stephen Lazar has written an important three-part series on this issue:
Turnover – The Biggest Problem We Face: Part 1
U.S. vs highest-achieving nations in education by Linda Darling-Hammond appeared in the Washington Post earlier today, and makes several good points about this issue.
Accountable for What? at Failing Schools
Gen Y Teachers and the Future of the Profession by Barnett Berry
The beatings will continue until teacher morale improves appeared in the Christian Science Monitor and is by Walt Gardner.
The High Cost of Low Teacher Salaries is by David Eggers and Nínive Clements Calegari and appeared in The New York Times.
More Time for Teachers Means Better Time for Students is by Barnett Berry.
Learning From Leadership: Investigating the Links to Improved Student Learning is from The Wallace Foundation.
What teachers need and reformers ignore: time to collaborate is an important column by Linda Darling-Hammond that appeared in The Washington Post
Why collaboration is vital to creating effective schools is from The Washington Post.
Additional suggestions are welcome. I’m sure there are some great articles out there that I just don’t know about.
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