News 12, First at 5, January 15, 2010

EVANS, Ga.---Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is pushing for some education reform. He wants to add a performance based pay option to the teacher's current salary system.

For teachers, that would get rid of pay increases for advanced degrees.

We all know teachers don't go into teaching for the money, but tell them their money will depend on their performance, and you're bound to get at least a few upset.

Tara Hansen teaches gifted students at Stevens Creek Elementary. She has her doctorate, and says getting rid of that incentive is a big mistake.

"For them to say that seeking a higher degree is not important and is not relevant to being a better teacher, than we're totally saying that education isn't worth it for the future," says Hansen.

"I think the key is trying to figure out how to build upon a system and make it better as opposed to tear it down and assume everything is wrong about it," says Richmond County Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden.

Governor Perdue is proposing bonuses based on performance, not on a teacher's level of education.

"Children really won't be the end result, it's all going to be about the numbers and that's not why we're here," adds Paula Schwartzman, a 30 year teaching veteran, and first grade teacher at Stevens Creek.

"It's about where the kid starts and where you move them as opposed to a kid scoring compared to another kid," says Dr. Bedden.

Many educators feel it will discourage teachers from going after lower performing, gifted or foreign students.

"I don't see teacher's stepping up to the plate and asking for those students," says Hansen.

Some feel like the pressure is already on, without this latest idea. "We're all here to help the children and this just adds another burden and worry that we have to take with us into the classroom," says Schwartzman.

"There is just so much that occupies an educator as it is and quite frankly, that is like the last thing they want to think about is their money," says Hansen.

Governor Perdue says he surveyed 20,000 of the state's 120,000 teachers and 80 percent agree with the standards.

"I don't know where his survey went out to, but it certainly didn't come to our county," says Schwartzman.

"Unfortunately the people that are in charge of the laws and things of education most of the time are not educators," says Hansen.

"I'm concerned," adds Schwartzman.

Of course, it's still very early in the plannings of this proposal. If it goes through, it would go into effect in 2014. It's all a part of Georgia's Race to the Top application for federal funding.

For new teachers there wouldn't be an option of what bonuses they want, but current teachers, would be able to choose either pay for performance or more money, for more degrees.