Viewpoint written by former PPTA president Ruth Chapman (1988-89) on performance pay and teaching.

Performance pay and teaching

I taught Heather Roy many years ago and recently she acknowledged me by describing me as an inspirational teacher. In the same article she outlined the advantages of performance pay – perhaps she believed that I would benefit from a performance-pay system.

It got me thinking . . .

Teachers contribute to student development in ways that may not be noticed or appreciated at the time.

I had to drag at least two clever but reluctant boys through my English class for them to gain their university entrance – I had the feeling that “old dragon” would have been their description of me. For other students my contribution may have been a boost to their self-esteem or a gift of respect, and maybe something I and the school did not notice at the time.

Teachers are in a powerful position and this requires careful reflection on the effect of our practice

I thought about the students who only remembered something from a teacher years after the event; in the same way I remember “gems” from my former teachers. On the other hand I thought about the power to do ill, to knowingly damage a student’s self-esteem and confidence in themselves and their learning. This is the scary thing about teaching and why we should give teachers time to think carefully about their daily practice.

There are many interrelated facets to teaching, and teachers have different strengths

I reminisced about the fact that I loved the classroom but probably wouldn’t have enjoyed today’s more structured regime; and the fact that there were other teachers who were better than me at classroom management, assessment, administration and curriculum development. Would they have been beneficiaries of the performance element of their pay?

Teachers who stand up for their beliefs are not always popular with management

I was involved in the union from early on in my teaching career, at a branch, regional and national level. That didn’t always make me popular in my school. Would the very teaching that inspired Heather Roy have been cancelled out by the demerits earned by standing up in unpopular situations? I feel proud to have been part of the campaign to abolish university entrance while working in a school where the principal strongly opposed the campaign.

PPTA News is the newsletter of the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association / Te Wehengarua (PPTA)

PPTA News v.32 (6) August 2011

Table of contents:

Performance pain - Viewpoiint written by Ruth Chapman (PPTA president 1988-89) p.3;

The human cost of ACC cuts p.4-5;

Ministry “perks” justify Tomorrow’s Schools review p.6;

Practices and values at the heart of education (Maori Teachers' Conference) p.7;

Australian union tackles Aboriginal issues in education (Maori Teachers' Conference) p.8;

Divine inspiration (Maori Teachers' Conference) p.8;

Libraries belong at the hub of schools p.9;

Cathedral College gets back on track p.10;

Still some uncertainty about jobs and schools p.11;

PPTA general secretary elected to international teachers’ body p.12;

Helping parents get to grips with the system (book review Understanding NCEA) p.12;

Minister invites RTLB teachers to leap into precarious employment p.13;

Petition a rallying call for Pasifika peoples p.13;

Sickness at home leave and EBS benefits - Field officers' advice p.14;

Extending national standards to year 9 and 10 would've hastened a teacher meltdown p.14;

Download the August 2011 issue of the PPTA News

PPTA News is the newsletter of the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association / Te Wehengarua (PPTA).

PPTA News v.32 (5) Jul 2011

Table of contents:

President's viewpoint - A latte and a lie down p.3;

Addressing the exuberance of troubled youth p.4;

On stage, standing up, speaking out p.5;

Getting to grips with PB4L p.5

Christchurch schools need certainty p.6;

Canterbury quake tales p.6;

Infamous comments just palin wrong p.7;

Two teacher only days for NCEA announced p.8;

Secondary won't face burden of national standards p.11;

Public education in focus - what parents had to say p.9;

New group to report on class size in October p.9;

Ministry still giving RTLBs the run-around p.9;

Valuing the role of short term relievers - Field officers' advice p.10;

Nationwide tour against bullying p.14.

Download the July 2011 issue of the PPTA News

PPTA News is the newsletter of the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers' Association / Te Wehengarua (PPTA).

PPTA News v.32 (4) June 2011

Table of contents
President's viewpoint - It's not called a zero budget for nothing p.3;
Double bunking (Canterbury quake) p.4;
Thinking ahead (Quake support) p.6;
Member assistance fund goes to recipients in need (Quake support) p.6
Mercy Dash (Canterbury quake) p.7;
Debt and why the government is different p.8;
Government moves ahead on PPP schools p.10;
"Needs analyses" gives RTLB transformation a dark edge p.11;
Teachers need time to look before they leap (PB4L) p.11;
Letter - "Pressure cooker" scheme meets urgent need (Graeme Aitken) p.12;
Area school teachers ratify a new agreement p.12;
Guy Allan Award p.13;
Complainants' anonymity not a given right - Field officers' advice p.14.
Nationwide tour against bullying p.14.

Download the June 2011 issue of the PPTA News