Assignment:
Discussion - Putting Schools in Charge
Access and read the article below by Dr. John Katzman.
Putting the Schools in Charge: An entrepreneur's vision for a more responsible education system
The chapter presents a detailed account of teacher compensation as we know it in most districts and states. Dr. Katzman, in his article, "Restructure to Reform," discusses some different ideas on teacher compensation. He says in part that "although our ultimate goal is a system of schooling that naturally evolves and improves, it's important to keep in mind that the capacity for experimenting and innovating resides in individual schools, not in central offices." Under the heading, "Offer Teachers a New Deal," he explains that "the problem isn't the total compensation; if anything, teachers are underpaid. It's the structure of that compensation..." He also makes some suggestions for teacher evaluation under his reformation.
1. How would teacher contracts and compensation change if Dr. Katzman's ideas were to come to fruition?
2. What might be some positive outcomes of empowering schools to be in charge of their own monetary resources?
3. What could be the down side to such a plan?
200 to 250 words.