OCR Text |
Show Let's Pay Parents j It is true! I am an outspoken advocate of merit pay for parents, i Yes, for parents. livery study that I have seen clearly shows that :' the home environment (not the classroom) is the single best : indicator of a student's success. It is only logical then to place the : merit pay funds where they will have the greatest impact. ..at.: home. It is now time to reward the parents who do the best job of : providing the schools with motivated learners. We must reward the parent who reads with the child, teaches counting rhymes. limits television time, and loves learning. Funding could be"; obtained by diverting career ladder money to the parents. GIVEN THE choice, professional teachers would choose eager ; students over a large paycheck any day. Parents are always trying ' to reduce expenses. Why not fund motivated students rather than ; teachers? With a financial incentive parents would send better : prepared students into the school system. Teachers would : achieve greater educational excellence since less time would be ; spent on classroom management (discipline). How would deserving parents be selected? I would suggest that-' the district's current merit pay guidelines serve as a model. To ; qualify for the merit pay a parent would need to show I) thirty hours of educational coursework beyond a high school diploma. 2) proof that their student has attended school in the district for at least five years, and 3) approval of the school's Joint Staff Study j Committee. This approval would be based on an evidence file submitted by the parent. The file would contain any evidence : which the parent felt would demonstrate his-her effectiveness. If : need be, a survey of fellow parents could be conducted to allow:: for peer input. PLEASE do not misunderstand my comments. I believe in the" : principles of merit pay. I feel that it is the application of those principles that is flawed. My slogan has always been. "Better- students for the teachers, and tax relief for the parents." " Brandon Thacker : 863 N. Chapel Dr. j Bountiful : |