Blaming Teachers

Here's a great letter to the editor from yesterday's Trib:

Blaming Teachers

So 59 percent of Utahns support basing a teacher's salary on performance ("Utahn support teacher merit pay," Tribune , Jan. 25). To this ridiculous proposal, I have two suggestions:

First, if wages are going to be affected by student test results, then not just teachers, but every district employee should have their pay affected, from the district superintendent on down. They all impact the learning ability of students.

Second, if teachers are going to lose money for perceived lack of effort inside the classroom, then parents should have to pay increased fees for their lack of effort outside the classroom. Poor diet, poor health, inadequate parental supervision and interaction, allowing students to miss school to go to Disneyland and allowing over-involvement in social and religious activities are just some examples of how parents fail to prepare their child to learn and undermine the best efforts of educators. Where is the "financial motivation" for parents? Why is so much focus put on teacher responsibility while none is directed at parental responsibility?

Blaming teachers for the condition of the American education system is like blaming a factory line worker for the failure of General Motors.

Mitch Lambdin

West Jordan