NJ's Teacher of the Year takes on Christie
The New Jersey Teacher of the Year has penned an editorial on her union's web site, here, about her private meeting with Gov. Christie -- and she has some choice, tough words for the governor.
He would abolish teacher pay scales and base salaries on a teacher's "effectiveness," measured largely by student test scores. His merit pay plan would force teachers to compete with each other, putting an end to professional collaboration. Teachers are team players, working together, sharing lessons and relying on each other's expertise and experiences. Merit pay will pit teacher against teacher, ruining the "learning community" that characterizes great public schools.
UPDATE: I just learned the op-ed first appeared in the Star-Ledger; it was re-printed by the NJEA.