Republicans support Indiana's teachers

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:39:41 -0500

House Republicans have long supported a simple concept: Good teachers should be paid more. With our children’s future in their hands, we believe that we should pay teachers enough to attract the best people. We should also reward the best teachers. We can do this by increasing pay for teachers that test well in their area of expertise. We should also reward teachers whose students perform well.

This common sense policy is supported heavily by Indiana voters.

The Democrats, however, are held hostage by the Indianapolis lobbyists for the teachers union. They oppose merit-based pay increases like many unions. So again, the common sense policies that Hoosiers support are being rejected by the Democrats in favor of the special interests.

Case in point: Rep. Tim Harris’ amendment to House Bill 1210. This bill would simply give teachers the option of taking a voluntary test.

(b) Not more than one (1) time during each five (5) year period, an individual may request to be tested by a written examination to demonstrate the individual's increasing level of proficiency in the subject areas in which the individual teaches.

(c) An individual who successfully demonstrates the individual's proficiency under subsection (b) is entitled to receive one thousand dollars ($1,000) each year for the five (5) years following the individual's demonstration of proficiency, paid to the individual by the governing body.

See the recent roll call here: http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2008/PDF/Hrollcal/0065.PDF.pdf.

Education

Republicans support Indiana's teachers