Submitted by Herschel, Apr 25, 2007 08:58

As a successful teacher for more than 30 years, it has been my experience that few administators are capable of providing help and guidance for teachers. They are too involved in pleasing their bosses, protecting their own jobs, and often do not know curriculum or classroom management. Sometimes they were not the most gifted or creative teachers, and have chosen to become principals to wield power over others. Once they become administators, many forget what it was like to be in the classroom. They have their favorite teachers, and some principals are politically appointed. Can you trust people like this to produce fair test results? To judge teachers? They blame teachers for poor results, and merit pay will open a Pandora's box of problems for education. Once again, politicians who have little practical knowledge of the school system are making the rules. It is the students and the teachers who will be hurt by giving principals merit pay. This plan will produce cheating and cover-ups by principals.

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