2009 NEA RA
Secretary of Education addresses NEA RA delegates
MEA member reactions mixed to Duncan’s remarks in San Diego
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called for reforms to teacher compensation and evaluation systems during a town hall meeting at the NEA Annual Meeting today, saying good teachers are essential to the success of every American child.
With tens of thousands of students still dropping out of school each year and far too many children failing to meet basic standards, Duncan said he and President Obama hope to collaborate with the NEA and its members on innovative solutions - including new ways to compensate teachers that depart from traditional seniority-based salary scales.
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel (right) greets U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan prior to his remarks at NEA’s 147th Annual Meeting on Thursday. (Photo courtesy NEA)
"Excellence matters. Excellence matters and we must honor it - fairly, transparently, and on terms teachers can embrace," Duncan said. "The President and I have both said repeatedly that we are not going to impose reform but rather work with teachers, principals, and unions to find what works."
Student test scores are likely to be part of the pay-for-performance system that Duncan would prefer – although pay shouldn't be based solely on scores, he said.
"I understand that tests are far from perfect and that it is unfair to reduce the complex, nuanced work of teaching to a simple multiple-choice exam. Test scores alone should never drive evaluation, compensation or tenure decisions. That would never make sense," Duncan said, to rousing applause. "But to remove student achievement entirely from evaluation is illogical and indefensible."
Duncan also called for reforms to the teacher tenure system, saying in some places it protects "jobs - not children - and that's not a good thing."
Reactions from members who attended Duncan’s remarks were mixed.
“In everything he said, there was an undertone of merit pay,” said MEA-Retired President Mary Christian. “I don’t know how that’s going to be used and abused across the country – and that’s frightening. Who’s going to want to teach special ed when their pay is riding on how those students measure up in a year’s time?”
That said, Christian noted many positives from Duncan’s remarks, including commitments to hold charter schools accountable, to correct what’s wrong with No Child Left Behind, to advocate for strong standards not only for teachers and support staff but also administrators and school boards, and to do everything possible to lower the high school dropout rate.
“I liked hearing that educators need to be part of the process,” said Cynthia Schneider, vice president of the Michigan State University Administrative Professional Association. “He clearly believes school reform isn’t just something where government can come in and put out edicts. We have to be part of the process for it to work.
“But I was a bit disappointed that in nearly an hour, he only mentioned college twice – he didn’t seem to include higher education in their plan.”
The federal economic recovery dollars earmarked for education was also a hot topic of conversation.
“He made it clear that there’s finally money in the federal budget for education, so we can start to accomplish these goals we’ve all had for a long time,” Christian said.
Summing up the feelings of many of the delegates, Schneider said, “We finally have an administration that is willing to hear – how much they’re willing to listen is still yet to be proven.
“I have a cautious optimism about where we’re headed – at least we have an ear now.”
Related:
- Full Text of Duncan's Prepared Remarks to Delegates
- NEA Members Ask, Education Secretary Arne Duncan Answers
- Comment on NEA RA blog about Duncan’s appearance
- Education Secretary Duncan hears from NEA members on education reform
- NEA votes to endorse Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court
- Judge Sonia Sotomayor
Updated: August 13, 2009 10:24 AM