Yes, seniority does a≠ect the performance of teachers

Time and again we see members of so-called think tanks make grandiose statements about educational issues only to fall short of validity because they haven’t done the research that would lend validity to their opinions. Instead, they robotically evidence the same behavior as every other member of the organization by espousing the fetid biases and propaganda of fellow members.

Measurement of teacher performance and concomitant compensation should not be influenced by misinformed sentinels of capitalism. Those who really know about teaching — teachers — should be consulted. They’re the ones who care for and about students and whose lives are personally intertwined with kids, families and communities. It turns out that seniority actually does enhance teacher performance, and it takes years of on-the-job experience to become a great teacher. In comparison, misguided free-market notions of augmenting teacher competence make little difference.