More than 4,000 public school teachers in the District are facing off over pay. At the center of the debate is a proposal to offer $100,000 salaries in exchange for job security.

The divide is shaping up along age and seniority lines. Younger teachers are willing to take a chance on high pay linked to student achievement. Older teachers don't want to give up long-help job protections.

Chancellor Michelle Rhee is proposing to offer salaries exceeding $100,000 for teachers willing to give up job security and spend a year on probation. Her goal is to attract and retain high-quality instructors who would be held accountable for growth in student achievement. Some veteran teachers are worried about placing their employment in the hands of a principal who might have a personal score to settle.

As the start of school gets clsoe, a look at teacher blogs shows D.C. teachers are far apart on a new contract. "It's more money and I think it will bring more qualified teachers into the system and get rid of some teachers who aren't," said teacher Heather Migdon. Teacher Jeff Canady doesn't agree. "This is not pay tied to performance. This is basically a scheme to eliminate teachers rights."

At the Washington Teacher's Union headquarters, junior teachers came to plead with the union president to put a new contract proposal to a vote. "The children will succeed more if their teachers are pushed with this great salary," said D.C. teacher Zakia Haight.

The contract calls for two tiers, red and green. Teachers who chose the green tier would give up tenure and go on probation for a year. Those with as little as five years on the job could double their salaries and earn more than $100,000 if their students do well on achievement evaluations.

Critics say the contract eliminates long-held job protections for teachers who stick to the current system or red tier. "Teachers on both tiers will lose their jobs en masse," said Canady.

The proposal is central to Rhee's plan to improve the long-troubled school system. She believes the pay incentive would attract and keep good teachers in D.C.

If adopted, the District would be one of the highest paying jurisdictions in the country and possibly become a magnet for teachers currently working in the suburbs. "Some might, yeah. Money is a big motivator for some people," said Arlington teacher Donald Martin.

Currently, the teachers are working under an expired contract. The president of the union believes he will bring the new proposal to a vote by mid-September.