THE EDITOR, Sir:

RECENTLY, THERE has been much talk of performance pay for teachers. For most people, teacher performance is measured by the results of examinations done by students. Let us accept this grand idea and extend it to other professions. After all, such a wise proposition should be welcome in all sectors of society.

Dealing with human beings is the same as dealing with inanimate objects. Teaching children is the same as stuffing tins and boxes. When teachers stuff students adequately, they must pass their examinations. When the students fail examinations, the stuffing was not enough or it was of the wrong quality.

The idea of performance pay is too good to waste on teachers alone. Let us include criminal lawyers. We must pay them according to the number of cases that they win. Those who lose cases constantly should be expelled from the profession. Doctors and nurses who work at hospitals should be paid according to the number of patients who get well. We must pay our ministers of religion according to the number of people that they bring into the church. We will be kept busy monitoring these areas.

When we shall have reaped enough success from these areas, we will extend the principle of payment by results to other service areas. We must alert the police that beginning with the homicide unit their salary will be based on the number of cases that they clear up. This will most certainly bring the crime rate down. We should also stop prepaying for goods and services. All payment should be based on performance.

I am, etc.

WINNIE ANDERSON-BROWN

Bagatelle District

Ashley P. A. Clarendon

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