To The Editor:

Merit pay has a connotation of being pay that is earned by a good performance. On the surface, this sounds good and fair.

The bill passed by the Florida Legislature (SB736) is not a good or fair bill. This bill put teachers’ pay at risk when it is based 50 percent on FCAT scores.

Why? Merit pay should be based on merit. To narrow it to FCAT scores will deprive lesser schools from getting the exceptional teaching help they need to improve.

Teachers will tend toward schools with good or exceptional grades for their student body.

Other states have gone to a reward system without jeopardizing the poor performing schools, by offering incentive pay to attract good teachers to school that need more help. New Mexico achieved great improvements by empowering superbly trained principals to raise their levels of achievements. The legislature is too far removed to be the judge of these issues.

Only in Florida, where state and local funds saved will now go to more corporate welfare.

That is a subject of another letter. This is about teachers and your children whose future is at stake.

Joan Anderson

Lehigh Acres