The $100,000 Teacher: A Solution to America's Declining Public School System

by Brian Crosby

Book Overview

In this provocative look at America's failing public school system, veteran teacher Brian Crosby convincingly argues that the key to better schools and better students is better teachers. He examines... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189212355X
• ISBN13: 9781892123558
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Capital Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

What happened to the respect for teachers?

This book is a must read for the public as it showcases the disgraceful working conditions that many teachers face. It is a definite eye-opener and will hopefully boost the opinion that the public has for teachers.

A provocative solution

Brian Crosby understands what is happening in our public schools. Our public schools really are facing a crisis of unprecedented proportions, especially in Crosby's (and my) home state, California. He understands that a society that pays its prison guards more than its teachers has its values distorted. His solution is a noble one, one that will work, and he outlines in considerable detail the steps necessary for its implementation in this easy to read, well thought out presentation. However, I am sorry to say that I don't think the $100,000 teacher is going to happen any time soon.Why? Mainly because there is a perception on a significant part of the public that teachers have it easy because they only work 180 days a year and therefore shouldn't be paid more. As a former teacher myself, one who retired young from the profession because of the inequities experienced, I can tell you that this perception is grossly mistaken for any number of reasons, but is true in at least one sense. To put it bluntly, it is true for the teacher who doesn't care, for the teacher who just wants to get a paycheck, for the teacher who has tenure and sees his or her responsibility as not extending beyond that of a glorified babysitter. And this goes for administrators who only want glorified babysitters. Crosby understands this and that is why his program is designed to weed out the teacher who doesn't care and reward the teacher who takes pride in teaching and wants to help his or her students succeed. That teacher IS a $100,000 teacher, if only we knew.The salient point of this book then is a realization that the problem of adequate public financial support for education and for upgrading the teaching profession will not be solved until the present tenure system is abolished. As Crosby expresses it, "...no matter the lousy job one performs, once tenured (after a two or three years of teaching), one is in it for life." (p. 106)The immediate effect of this system is to tie the hands of administrators. They cannot easily influence poor teachers, nor can they get rid of them. Conversely those teachers who really care and give their best to their students are not rewarded and so they leave the profession in frustration. As Crosby points out on the very first page of the book, "One-fifth of all new teachers quit within three years" and "Half of all new teachers quit within five years."An unintended consequence of the present system is to make teachers and administrators adversaries. Administrators want teachers to do more, but teachers are not rewarded for doing more, so they (the ones that stay) resist. In addition, typically the school principal leads the negotiating committee for the school district against the teacher's union. So instead of working together for student achievement, teachers and administrators become adversaries. This dissipates their ability as educators.In the long run the effect of the tenure system is synergistic in a negative sens

A Thought -Provocing Book

Mr. Crosby's well-written book is a must-read for anyone interested in the state of our educational system today. I do not agree with every single thing he has to say, but he does come up with some good ideas and well-thought out solutions to our current public school problems. He states his case clearly and concisely. This is a book that should be read by every teacher in the country. Bravo to Mr. Crosby for a job well done!

The $100,000 Solution

In his thoughtful, well-written book, Mr. Crosby cuts through the emotion, politics and misinformation that prevents improvement in our schools. He carefully and articulately lays out a logical, common sense solutuion---namely, if you want high quality sevices, provided by high quality people in a difficult profession, then you must pay commensurate salaries. Unions would automatically become less powerful and less important as market forces work demanding competitive high quality results. His case is intelligently presented using statistical data as well as personal experiences from his years "on the front line" as a L.A. County high school teacher. The book is highly informational as well as conversational---a must read for anyone interested in public education.

Intriguing!

Whether you agree with Brian Crosby's thesis or not, most, if not all, readers must agree that this is a well thought out and very interesting book about the current state of the American education system.If you are involved in the education system at all, a teacher, have children or care anything about the people that our country creates, you must read this thought provoking book!I can see why "Publisher's Weekly," "The Library Journal," and "Teacher" have all covered this book with good reviews and why Bill O'Reilly has booked the author as a guest on "The O'Reilly Factor.'