Upon reading Thomas Friedman’s call for an economic stimulus package that includes tax cuts for teachers, Barnett Berry contends that young educators want more than dollars and cents.
[There is} an influx of Gen Y teachers who tell us that the keys to recruiting and retaining talent will require better preparation and tuned-in resources for teaching in high-needs schools, more time to work with colleagues and social workers in solving family and social problems their students face, and new opportunities to serve in major leadership roles to dramatically change the schools in which they teach. Innovative ways to pay teachers more and differently are necessary, but not sufficient.