Honestly, I know that I represent exactly one person but I don’t understand the need to reduce very complex issues in the MOA, as we understand the opaque thing, to soundbites that do not do justice to the issues at hand. It is not clear to me that the Teacher Leadership positions, by themselves and as described in the MOA, constitute “Merit Pay.” I am a minority of one within MORE and I know that we need to make snappy, catchy phrases as part of a campaign but I’m get a little bit frustrated with the almost reflexive reductionism that passes for conversation in our organization. That said, I support MORE’s decisions and raise this only as a comment representing my own sense of the land.
I don’t where you get your information, but these positions are leadership positions that will help our colleagues. There are not merit pay! You are misinformed!
A comment from upstate: Some of us are watching very closely to the minutiae of the NYC contract. I agree that the Teacher Leadership positions constitute Merit Pay. Recently, we reviewed a document issued by NYSUT that calls for changes to the APPR or teacher evaluations. NYSUT proposes a two tiered teacher system based on HEDI scores. For instance, if you are Highly effective or Effective, you will be better positioned to get transfers, leadership positions, less burdensome evaluations, etc.. In effect, you are saying that the results of the APPR (evaluations) are so valid that career decisions can be based on them. As we know, the APPR (evaluation) is easily manipulated and filled with junk science, just like VAM and Merit Pay decisions. Also, look at who will be selecting your Teacher Leaders. The UFT and the Chancellor and DOE? Shouldn’t these decisions come from building teachers? Please look carefully at this poisonous issue. Solidarity means: NO Merit Pay!
There is so little actual information about any of this that all I would say is that the MOA says that High Eff., Eff., and, under special circumstances, Sat. teachers would be selected. It doesn’t have a word about what the selection element are or the weighting of them so I just urge everyone to hold their breath for a bit until it becomes clearer. In my book, “merit pay” is extra money based simply on specious test scores.
SUMMER SERIES 2 :Life Under the New ContractJuly 30, 2014 at 4:00 pm – 7:00 pmThe Dark Horse 17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WT
C Food, $5 Drafts & Well Drinks
SUMMER SERIES 3: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers’ UnionAugust 13, 2014 at 4:00 pm – 7:00 pmThe Dark Horse 17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WT
C Featuring Guest Speakers from CORE-CTU
SUMMER SERIES 4 :UFT 101: Why Does Our Teachers' Union Matter?August 20, 2014 at 4:00 pm – 7:00 pmThe Dark Horse 17 Murray St. NYC Near City Hall, Chambers St, WT
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Honestly, I know that I represent exactly one person but I don’t understand the need to reduce very complex issues in the MOA, as we understand the opaque thing, to soundbites that do not do justice to the issues at hand. It is not clear to me that the Teacher Leadership positions, by themselves and as described in the MOA, constitute “Merit Pay.” I am a minority of one within MORE and I know that we need to make snappy, catchy phrases as part of a campaign but I’m get a little bit frustrated with the almost reflexive reductionism that passes for conversation in our organization. That said, I support MORE’s decisions and raise this only as a comment representing my own sense of the land.
I don’t where you get your information, but these positions are leadership positions that will help our colleagues. There are not merit pay! You are misinformed!
A comment from upstate: Some of us are watching very closely to the minutiae of the NYC contract. I agree that the Teacher Leadership positions constitute Merit Pay. Recently, we reviewed a document issued by NYSUT that calls for changes to the APPR or teacher evaluations. NYSUT proposes a two tiered teacher system based on HEDI scores. For instance, if you are Highly effective or Effective, you will be better positioned to get transfers, leadership positions, less burdensome evaluations, etc.. In effect, you are saying that the results of the APPR (evaluations) are so valid that career decisions can be based on them. As we know, the APPR (evaluation) is easily manipulated and filled with junk science, just like VAM and Merit Pay decisions. Also, look at who will be selecting your Teacher Leaders. The UFT and the Chancellor and DOE? Shouldn’t these decisions come from building teachers? Please look carefully at this poisonous issue. Solidarity means: NO Merit Pay!
There is so little actual information about any of this that all I would say is that the MOA says that High Eff., Eff., and, under special circumstances, Sat. teachers would be selected. It doesn’t have a word about what the selection element are or the weighting of them so I just urge everyone to hold their breath for a bit until it becomes clearer. In my book, “merit pay” is extra money based simply on specious test scores.