You know, we really don't want every kid to go to college. First, its not fair to expect every kid to be suitable for higher education. Second, we need people to do the jobs that do not require a college education or degree, and we should treat them with the respect due to hard working, productive citizens, rather than as people who failed by not going on to college. Vocational training served a real purpose, and should be brought back in force.

Posted by College? | reply to this comment
January 27, 2008 7:51 pm

'How about making $100K of his salary dependent on showing a steady increase in the number of kids who go to college?'......Becau this is government, that's why. And in gov everything is done backwards and Mickey Mouse so it does not work correctly. As for the $10K bonus, that is less than 4% of his base salary-why on earth would he, or anyone, even care about such a small ticket bonus?????

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
January 27, 2008 9:48 pm

Great idea about the magnitude of the bonus. I think the same strategy should be applied to reporters who break big stories that really make a difference in San Diego. That can be just as important as getting more kids into college. Even $10,000 would be appreciated, I'm sure.

Posted by Jack | reply to this comment
January 27, 2008 10:59 pm

I just knew it couldn't be education writer Emily Alpert writing this cheeky hypothetical about the odd corporate practice of granting bonuses to public school superintendents. But Scott raises some good points and probably, following this line of thought, he should get a bonus that he would share with his co-editor Andrew Donohue. Personally, I think the supe's very generous salary -- which doesn't even describe his transportation, travel and health benefits --ought to be sufficient incentive to do his best as head educator in the school district. I believe in fair wages, standards for performance, reasonable oversight and personal motivation -- for everybody, even those teachers whom Billy Bob loves to hate.

Posted by Frances O'Neill Zimmerman | reply to this comment
January 28, 2008 1:37 pm

Will the pandering ever stop for Steve Francis?? Who is this guy?? He will say or do anything for support right now. Hard work was good for him but not for the black community? Does he really think handouts and empty promises will earn him credibility in the black community? Does he think they will sell themselves for so little? He is exploiting racial aspects by playing the old classic political card of race warfare of the haves and have nots. "He (Francis) spoke of more than just economic enterprise zones, he spoke of simple things like encouraging people to open bank accounts instead of going to check cashing places on Friday evening." We can only expect Francis to go back into the black community and promote the great jobs available to black people in the pharmaceutical testing industry after his defeat for a second time to make a buck.

Posted by Debt Collector | reply to this comment
January 28, 2008 1:49 pm

4. Frances O'Neill Zimmerman wrote on January 28, 2008 3:37 PM: I believe in fair wages, standards for performance, reasonable oversight and personal motivation -- for everybody, even those teachers whom Billy Bob loves to hate........ as a licensed teacher for over 20 years I will tell you I only love to hate the BAD teachers, and there is an extra ordinary number of them, like in all gov employment, and they should be fired. I have been there in the teaching trenches, and I know as much about teaching as anyone.

Posted by Billy Bob Henry | reply to this comment
January 28, 2008 7:11 pm

Well, since every word published here is God's truth, I am going to believe what Billy Bob Henry says about being a teacher for many years and say, thank you for your efforts -- if, in fact, you are not just licensed but actually do work as a teacher. Regardless, I have been dumfounded by your repeated insistence here that teachers are blood-sucking free-loading "government" employees, and by implication, that government employees are themselves leeches and the lowest of the low. Harsh, harsh, and inaccurate. I think teachers and civil servants make a huge contribution to our lives.

Posted by FO'NZ | reply to this comment
January 29, 2008 1:38 pm

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