Comments on: Eliminating the Master’s Bump for Teachers http://www.pdkintl.org/blog/2010/01/eliminating-the-master%e2%80%99s-bump/ Notes from the leading association of educators Sat, 18 May 2013 11:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Bill Bushaw http://www.pdkintl.org/blog/2010/01/eliminating-the-master%e2%80%99s-bump/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Bill Bushaw Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:38:34 +0000 http://www.pdkintl.org/blog/?p=117#comment-65 Eve,

What you’re suggesting is exactly what Patricia had in mind in Washington. The master’s degree should mean something and Patricia believes that the best colleges and universities will step up and create great programs just like it appears happened in Kentucky.

There is so much out there swirling around about how we pay teachers. Given our limited ability to assess important student learning, I don’t think we’re ready to directly link teacher pay to student achievement. On the other hand, I know our current system is not working, and I remember thinking that many years ago when I was in the classroom.

As we agree, it’s fun to look forward and think about how we can improve what we do.

Bill

]]> By: Eve http://www.pdkintl.org/blog/2010/01/eliminating-the-master%e2%80%99s-bump/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Eve Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:31:36 +0000 http://www.pdkintl.org/blog/?p=117#comment-63 Bill,
I have read, discussed, and been involved in lots of interesting higher education discussions regarding this. I think some of the movement needs to be targeted toward what the Masters’ degrees entail. In Kentucky all colleges have had to revise the MA programs to become teacher leaders. As a part of the approval process, we had to work with district partners, arts and science faculty, etc., to develop the new program and courses. It has been a fruitful experience resulting in a MA program tightly connect to professional growth plans for each MA candidate linked to their school and district needs AND the demonstration over time of leadership characteristics and dispositions. I do think that instead of eliminating, revising with specific requirements to meet education needs is more of an answer. Accountability only works if there are partners who take ownership.

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