Columnist Bill Hanlon: Teachers deserve merit pay, but some caution is needed

Bill Hanlon

Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998 | 10:12 a.m.

THE ISSUE OF MERIT PAY for teachers is making its way around the nation. I have no doubt that it will make its way to Carson City during the next Legislature.

I believe most would agree that hard working, dedicated teachers should be compensated for the job they do. Research suggests that classroom teachers are the single most important factor outside the family and home that influences students' achievements.

Forty-nine percent of the influence comes from home and family, 43 percent from teachers and 8 percent from the size of classes, according to the research. If that is accurate, some might believe Nevada is a little off course.

The State Board of Education took an unpopular position two sessions ago to recommend that the Legislature increase teacher licensure standards and require teachers be competent and up-to-date in the subjects they teach. The bills died.

Today, the idea that a teacher's knowledge has an effect on student achievement is widely accepted. Several bills have been suggested to address teacher licensure and education programs in Nevada.

How to make merit pay fair is the bigger and more difficult question facing the Legislature.

Would you hold a doctor responsible for the poor health of his patients who didn't follow his advice? If you are overweight, smoke, don't follow a proper diet, don't exercise, don't get enough sleep and then have a stroke, should you blame the doctor?

What about teachers? If they have students who don't attend school regularly, don't pay attention, refuse to participate in class, refuse to take notes, work until midnight, don't get enough sleep, don't do homework, don't study for tests, and have parents who don't take the time to meet the teachers, should we blame those teachers?

I believe teachers make a difference. I believe some teachers are better than others. I believe some teachers work much harder than others. I believe student achievement increases when students have good teachers. I believe those teachers should be rewarded.

Medical research suggests that people with lower incomes have more illnesses and die younger than the wealthy. Educational research suggests that same correlation exists between low socio-economic status and student achievement.

It's my understanding that research hospitals have higher death rates than regular hospitals. Is that because the health care is not as good or is it because they handle tougher cases? Should those hospitals be ridiculed for trying to help those with greater needs? Should doctors and nurses forego pay increases because of the higher death rate at their hospital? Should the hospitals be closed down?

The answer is no.

Teachers at schools which serve students with greater needs should not be ridiculed or sanctioned either. They are working just as hard as teachers in more affluent communities where most parents expect their children to go on to college.

Just as research hospitals take on tougher cases which result in higher death rates, schools in poorer areas of the state take on tougher teaching assignments with lower rates of student achievement.

Using that analogy, it would appear we should not blame the doctor or teacher for the failed health or grade of people who did not follow directions.

So as we discuss merit pay, please understand there is more to it than just agreeing with the concept. Linking merit pay to student achievement would be similar to discouraging top doctors from working at research hospitals.