Teachers Benefit When Students Achieve

In a perfect world, this would be true. The concept of 'Merit Pay' or 'Incentive Pay' for teachers works in an environment where teachers and the teachers unions are recruited to develop an incentive plan that recognizes teachers or groups of teachers who show strong academic advancement in their students. Unfortunately, the "No Child Left Behind" legislation has really only added more layers of bureaucracy on an already defunct system of public education which rewards teachers uniformly, simply for putting time in. There is no way, under the current system, to single out and advance teachers who are highly effective.

In fact, a system that provides no incentive for teachers based on their increase in student performance discourages more highly desirable professionals who seek gainful employment in the free market, according to The American Legislative Exchange Council on Teacher Salary and Merit Pay. They conclude that teachers should be rewarded for the success of their pupils.

The New York Times' "Long Reviled, Merit Pay Gains Among Teachers ", presents the benefits of involving teachers and their unions to create benefits for teachers who really reach their students and help them on their academic journeys. Teachers, that at first were sceptical of merit or incentive pay, are now strong advocates of such a system.