Should Teachers receive merit pay?

Some say no, because it discourages good teachers from working in schools where students perform poorly—even though such teachers might make a major difference in some of those students’ lives.

On the other hand, merit pay might encourage teachers to stop putting up with the current politically correct policy of grouping students from both ends of the learning spectrum in the same class. Good teachers know that having a class of similar-ability students, whether low or high, makes it much easier to move students ahead—and thus earn merit pay.

Unfortunately, not only students but also teachers are held back by the misguided attempt to make everyone “equal” by combining handicapped or unmotivated students with bright and motivated students.

The inevitable result is students who are either bewildered or bored, and a teacher who is often prevented from demonstrating his or her merit. If we want better results from our schools, the first thing we should do is get rid of grouping students together with vastly different abilities.

Lucy Wells

Poulsbo