Ontario teachers with 10 years experience or more already receive higher salaries than their counterparts in other provinces.
teacher salaries
In government-run schools, union collective agreements constrain teacher salaries.
Provinces should allow parents to use government funding to enroll their children in schools of their choice.
Given the current fiscal climate -- the BC government's significant deficit ($1.4 billion over the next two years) -- and comparisons with the income of average BC families, now is hardly the time for BC teachers to be asking for more. Rather than give to the demands of the BC Teachers Federation, Premier Christy Clark should ensure the next collective agreement ties teacher pay to performance.
It's a safe bet to assume that all British Columbians want children to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to build a happy and productive life. In order to ensure that opportunity for all, our public schools should seriously consider any innovation that holds out the promise of improved education for our kids.
When it comes to teacher pay, one might expect a compensation package that pays a premium for effective teaching, and encourages less successful teachers to improve their skills, would be one tool in the improvement toolbox.