"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
DR. PETER GORMAN: "If a master's degree does increase effectiveness, wouldn't that show up in the...student growth, so you'd get rewarded for that anyways?"
NICK SIMONETTE: That's Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, arguing that teacher pay increases should be based on student achievement, not on a teacher getting an advanced degree.
Now we do agree that teachers should get extra money if they boost student achievement.
But Dr. Gorman – seriously?
Making a statement that advanced degrees don't matter?
What are you thinking?
That's a slap in the face to teachers who sacrifice to further their education!
Getting a master's or a PhD is a great thing.
A teacher should be applauded for doing so, not told it doesn't really make a difference.
Another thing --
Your position on this issue is based on research some argue is questionable and incomplete.
The study you quoted came from Harvard.
Those Harvard researchers didn't even track the success with high school teachers with advanced degrees.
We say, go back to the drawing board and make decisions based on real evidence -- hard evidence -- not just research that supports your agenda of "pay for performance" throughout the district.
Think about it.
Charlotte's top educator knocking education?
We find that very hard to believe.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
