Thursday, December 6, 2012

Performance related...

Oh my, the teaching unions are up in arms over the possibility that their members might actually have to prove they are doing a good job... Or not.
Telegraph.
Ministers are facing a backlash over plans to introduce a system of performance-related pay in schools.
Classroom unions could propose fresh industrial action in an attempt to block moves to rip up existing national salary scales for teachers.
It was claimed that the proposal – outlined in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement – represented a “war on teachers” and would lead to “unfairness and discrimination” in staffrooms.
The two biggest teaching unions – the National Union of Teachers and the NASUWT – will meet early next week to discuss the proposals, it has been confirmed.
Both unions are already taking part in joint work-to-rule action as part of a long-running protest over changes to pensions, public sector pay freezes and mounting workloads.
It is likely that a move towards performance-related pay will add to their list of grievances and could lead to an escalation of the action.
Whilst those of us who work in the private sector are no strangers to performance related pay it seems the public sector aren't, other than accepting bonuses for achieving it of course. Whilst I have a little sympathy for those teachers who run across the odd class full of unruly pupils, it does rather strike me as a good idea that the best and those who achieve the best ought to be paid more for doing so, it might after all cull the useless and feckless amongst the teachers if they find they cannot get a pay rise.
Then again having seen what schools will do to 'pss exams' rather than teach, perhaps we should simply go back to basics and restore the entire system from the ground up removing the dross subjects from the curriculum and simply teach kids stuff that will help them get jobs, rather than teach them about multiculturalism and sexual awareness.
Just having kids who can read, write and do maths would be a godsend to a great many employers out there after all...

 

 

3 annotations:

The Filthy Engineer said...

The problem with civil service appraisals is that you can only be sacked for virtually not turning up for work.

I wrote one for a worker stating that "He should be dismissed as soon as is practicable". It took two years before he was let go.

Of course he just joined another area of the civil service.

banned said...

Our physics teacher was a lazy twat and made no secret of being as bored as we were during his lessons.
In three years we did one simple physical experiment.
He retired as we reached the 5th form and along with the lab techs we broke into his old storeroom which was chock-a-block with unopened boxes of experiment stuff sent to him over the years by the GLC Cupplies Dept. What a waste, what a waster,

Tarka the Rotter said...

Our present school system was born out of the 18th century Enlishtenment and organised on 19th industrial models to meet the needs of the industrial revolution. One of the reasons we have so many issues with education - disruptive pupils being only one - is that we need to rethink what education is about and what it is for. Yes, we need the best teacher and the highest standards possible, but we need to question the whole concept of 30 children sitting in a classroom facing a teacher droning on and on using a teaching style more suited to Maudlin Street ('Carry on Teacher'). No, I am not arguing for lessons in multikulti (perish the thought) or any of the social engineering clap trap of the New Labour Dawn, the world is too interesting and exciting to waste time and money on that sort of stuff. As for standards, yep, I am all for them. Absolutely.