I read all of the education threads on letsrun. This is the first one that has been remotely palatable for me. Thank you for keeping the discussion relatively civil and reasonable.
I don't think merit based pay is the answer, even though I would definitely benefit from such a plan, as my students regularly outscore my peers' students on the standardized test each year. Merit based pay implies that teachers are not yet trying their hardest, and need some sort of incentive to start trying. I think most teachers try quite hard to do their best already, it's just that some of them don't really have the talent/skill to teach well. For whatever reason, I have been repeatedly told that I am a good teacher by my students ... that I explain things well, and the data backs up these claims. I wouldn't even say that I try that hard ... I've been doing it for 15 years, I know my subject matter well (math), and I'm just good at it ... sort of like a major league baseball player that has the unique skillset of being able to hit a curve ball. Giving me more money won't make me any better, and it won't have any effect on an average or poor teacher either. If they could be more effective at what they do, they would already be doing it.
A way to improve education to me has already been stated in some of the threads above. The U.S. is seen as being weak in math/science versus other countries (we won't mention that the statistics are skewed, as that's a whole other topic). To improve in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) you have to get more people like me involved. I CHOSE to be a teacher because I wanted to have an impact on others. I was an engineer for four years, and could have continued with that career, but it seemed so meaningless to me. Good educators make a difference, which is what I have been doing. If you want more people like me, you have to pay them what they could get as an engineer, or financial analyst, etc. That is the only way I see education in the hard subjects improving. If this means different pay scales for different teachers, than so be it. The quarterback and the offensive lineman don't get paid the same, but they seem to be able to work together pretty well.
Lastly, I apologize if this post seems conceited. I am a good teacher and I like my job. I am very happy with the decision I made 15 years ago. I'm just trying to state that we have to raise math/science salaries if we want more talent to enter the profession.