Media outlets and critics such as the B.C. Teachers’ Federation on Tuesday quickly dubbed B.C. Liberal leadership candidate Kevin Falcon’s proposal to reward great teachers as “merit pay.”
That, however, was only a small kernel of Falcon’s plan.
Falcon is proposing more than bonuses for teachers who show exceptional work either through their students performing well on tests or by other means.
He also wants to develop a Master Teacher Incentive Program, similar to one being implemented by Australia’s new Labour government.
“B.C. has a great education system powered by thousands of very dedicated, professional teachers and administrators. But, every parent and student knows who the exceptional, innovative educators are,” Falcon said in a release.
“Government needs to recognize and reward those teachers and encourage them to share their expertise and methods with their peers.”
Falcon’s proposal, therefore, is to create a system where these so-called master teachers would mentor others.