by Scott Thomas, AM 1160 WYLL afternoon talk show host
According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times State Senator Rev. James Meeks is pushing the Chicago Board of Education, through pressure on Mayor Daley, to use the proposed new funding generated by Gov. Blagojevich's latest Illinois gambling scheme (the direct result of Senator Meeks threat to run for Governor) to pay a $50,000 incentive to bring the best teachers to Chicago's worst schools. Responding to reports showing Chicago Public Schools having, overall, the worst teachers in the state, Meeks said, "The worst schools are getting the worst teachers...We can't keep letting that languish."
The solution Meeks proposes is to find top-notch teachers, pay them an immediate $25,000 signing bonus, and an additional $5000/year for 5 years to come and teach in the worst schools. Well, I'm against the Blagojevich funding scheme in the first place. But, if he gets it through, I think this free-market approach to hiring teachers is at least worth discussing.
But, there are so many other issues that, I think, contribute to schools being classified as "worst", and no amount of money thrown at teachers will change them.
There is the issue of danger. Teachers at the worst schools are in danger of verbal and physical assault on a daily basis. Is $50,000 over 5 years enough to throw caution to the wind for a teacher who is paid pretty well in a threat-free environment at Glenbard North, or Neuqua Valley, or any number of "best" Chicago area high schools? I doubt it.
Chicago public schools currently graduate less than 53% of Chicago high school students. That's a greater than 47% drop out rate. That certainly cannot all be laid at the feet of poor high school teachers. All kinds of factors including a lack of good parenting (due to a lack of parents), teaching their children the value of education and the ethics of respect. Grade schools and middle schools that push students through, just to get them through, despite behavioral problems, learning problems, constant absence, and lack of effort matriculate students into high school that even the best teachers won't be able to help.
There is no denying the education gap in the state of Illinois. Chicago students are at the bottom. But, is the biggest problem in Chicago education the lack of quality teachers? Maybe it is, but I doubt it. Teachers can't teach kids who don't show up, or show no respect, of can't read by the time they get to high school, or threaten them, or assault them, or think gang banging is a better way to spend time than studying.
If privatizing the Illinois Lottery (the Blago plan) actually does produce billions for education in this state, and if advocates for Chicago students, like Senator Meeks, are serious about reducing/eliminating the education gap, then don't throw $50,000 good dollars after bad. Change the schools first. Find the students who really want to learn. Find the parents who will support those students in their desire to learn. Transform a "worst" school by placing these students in one while sending the other students to different schools.
Then, pay whatever the market demands to bring good teachers in and teach students who want to learn. Throwing money around, without changing the circumstances is not what's needed.
