Reply #6: Teachers for years have walked the line between blue collar and professional mentalities as it

[ProgressiveProfessor]

suited them. The time for that is coming to a close.

Professionals are evaluated yearly, preferably with some metrics. There are salary differentials based on performance and skills, not seniority. However teacher contracts are much like auto worker ones. Seniority drives pay and assignments, not skills or performance. The annual evaluation is simply and up or down check with tremendous job protections. Skills and market rate pay are subordinated to the auto worker style contract. Incentives are often precluded. You can not insist on being called and treated as professionals and then demand blue collar contracts.

The NEA etc had the opportunity to get ahead on this and work out something equitable in terms of professional evaluations and merit. Instead they chose to go into denial, fighting a futile rearguard action. They are going to be steamrolled by Obama and his Dept of Education. Its not like we could not see this coming.