What Are Your Good Teacher Priorities? Report | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News

December 06, 2011 11:07:14 AM

Recruiting and Screening For Top Talent:

High Pay:

Good Training for Teachers Entering the System:

Small Class Size:

Hold Teachers Accountable Through Test Results:

What else goes into recruiting, evaluating, and retaining great teachers?:

Throw away kids.
I am amazed at the punitive language about kids, teachers and parents. Since the proponents of ' personal responsibility' are so willing to throw away any kid who does not have effective parents, I have modest proposal. How about taking those kids away from anyone whose kids don't pass the Regents exam, and requiring that those advocates of 'responsibility' adopt as many kids as they can. After all, if class size does not matter, neither should family size. First, of course, those new "responsible" parents should be sure they can pass the so-called 'literacy' exam, which measures primarily their ability to fill in little ovals. If they fail, the ideal parents should be made useful by cleaning toilets for the rest of us.

When it comes to getting the best teachers possible into the system, what are your priorities? Rank the approaches below from 1-5, with 1 being your highest priority.