A just reward

http://www.theage.com.au/news/letters/time-to-go-ted/2008/05/13/1210444430576.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

SINCE the teachers' dispute with the Victorian Government ended in kisses, we have heard the proposal to pay super principals up to $200,000 to transform under-performing schools. Unless this proposal is hitched to the expertise and energy of high-performing teachers it is doomed to failure. After all, these teachers make genuine educational reform work. But alas, we cannot identify these high performers. Give me a break.
High-performing teachers can easily be identified by school communities and without wasteful educational consultancies. Simply look at peer assessment, student assessment, extracurricular participation, post-graduate study and professional development leadership. Oh, but this will be divisive, say the unions. Not at all. Only interested teachers need apply to have an assessment, the run-of-the-mill can keep their sweet deal. Let's stop pussyfooting around real educational reform and offer outstanding teachers real remuneration, say $100,000-$150,000.
Mike Toomey, Rowville