Riley gets recommendations on public education

Mentoring for new employees and incentive pay for teachers are among the recommendations that the Governor's Commission on Quality Teaching has presented to Gov. Riley to improve the quality of public education in the state. Both are good ideas. Unfortunately, the most promising of the two - incentive pay - has been consistently opposed by the powerful Alabama Education Association, an organization rivalled by few in its commitment to mediocrity.

If Alabama is ever to achieve excellence in public education, its leaders have to free themselves from the influence of Paul Hubbert and the AEA. Ensuring that teachers are rewarded based on performance is a common-sense measure that would aid in the retention of good teachers, while encouraging all teachers - good and not-so-good - to get better. Shouldn't a public school teacher be provided with the same type of incentives that he would receive in the private sector for a job well-done? The AEA often responds to that question by saying, "No, because it would create too much competition among teachers." Faced with a self-defeating outlook like that, is it any wonder that so many parents see fit to take their kids out of the public school system?