Could it be that state Democrats have finally decided to jump down off the lap of the hidebound Nevada education establishment and run free? Well, maybe not. But at least they seem to be demanding a little more room on the leash.
On Tuesday, Nevada Democrats unveiled their education agenda for the 2007 Legislature. It's a predictably timid and tepid mix o all-day kindergarten, chaining high school students to their desks for an extra year to artificially reduce the dropout rate, creating a lottery to raise money for the public schools o with one exception. The state Democrats say they now back a modest incentive pay plan for Nevada teachers
This is a major step forward. Teacher unions have traditionally hated this idea, arguing laughably that what happens every day in the private sector o people being rewarded financially for their work performance o would be impossible to pull off in the public schools.
Democrats, long beholden to the education unions, have echoed this silly and counterproductive view.
"I believe the debate has evolved. The bottom line is, we need accountability for our public investment in education," said Sen. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas. ...
Indeed, rewarding good teachers must be an integral piece of any effort to impose standards and accountability on the public education system. That state Democrats have come to understand this is welcome news o and we expect they'll work as diligently to implement a merit pay plan with teeth as they did in past sessions to kill any serious education reform proposals.
Even if the education establishment starts holding back the Milk-Bonz.
