Teachers in the Port Huron school district, a school system in southeastern Michigan that has approximately 12,000 students, went on strike at the end of last month. This strike is believed to be the first recent attempt in the state to introduce a form of merit pay.
The school board has proposed a plan called the "incremental earning proposal". Under this plan, teachers’ annual salary increases, which they currently receive automatically for each additional year of service, would only be awarded to teachers who complete a required amount of community service and other extracurricular activities. According to a union official, teachers would need to sign an agreement at the beginning of the school year to participate in these unpaid activities. Teachers could earn up to 20 points for activities such as completing college courses or coaching Little League baseball. If a teacher does not earn 20 points by the end of the school year, their salary increase would be withheld.
Furthermore, the school board’s plan also states that if a teacher fails to comply with the agreement at least once every two years, district officials would have grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal. The plan was introduced during the annual contract negotiations and school officials, under the direction of a state mediator, have refused to discuss it in detail.
Although some are comparing this plan to the controversial idea of merit pay, the teachers in Port Huron are calling it a "demerit" plan. Donald Aikins, a spokesperson for the Port Huron Education Association, argues that the proposed plan fails to recognize excellence in the classroom. He acknowledges the value of community work, but believes it does not make someone a better teacher.
Richard Ringstrom, a representative for the Michigan Education Association in the Detroit area, agrees with Aikins. He sees the plan as negative and punitive, as teachers are being asked to give up their personal time outside of the classroom. Ringstrom argues that the plan takes away the small financial reward that teachers have historically received.
Aikins clarifies that teachers are not opposed to being involved in extracurricular activities, but they are against being required to participate as a condition for receiving an annual raise. He believes that the plan is an attempt to extract additional work from teachers without compensation. Aikins describes it as not only illegal but also insulting, considering that many teachers already engage in volunteer work.
According to the proposed plan, teachers could earn points for several off-duty and unpaid activities, such as educational research, leading a school club, attending workshops, or supervising scout troops. Points could also be earned for leadership in educational organizations, with the exception of teachers’ unions.
The teachers went on strike on the 24th of August. However, two days after classes were scheduled to begin, a local judge ordered the teachers to return to work. Yet, school officials announced that they were unable to find union leaders to serve them with the order.
The strike in Port Huron is one of 16 ongoing strikes in Michigan, impacting approximately 43,000 students and 2,000 teachers. Last year, Michigan experienced 30 teachers’ strikes, according to the officials.