THE EDITOR, Sir:
It is very pleasing to know that the government is pushing ahead with plans to link the salaries of teachers to their performance in the classroom. I strongly believe that teachers should be paid according to their professionalism. I should add that having a profession and being a professional are two different things. An individual can have a profession but is not a professional in what he or she does. Hence, an individual can be both or either of the two.
Teachers' performance should be judged on professional development, student development, teaching skills and classroom skills. Often times we hear that teachers are lazy and inconsiderate especially at the Early Childhood level. I strongly believe that Early Childhood teachers should pay more attention to their children's interests rather than try to finish the curriculum as though they were finishing a race.
Teachers should not only teach academics, but they need to teach about skills, values and positive attitudes that will guide the younger generation on a better path for success.
Teachers, all teachers, need to be paid according to their performance within the classroom. I am pleased to know that teachers eventually accepted the Govern-ment's pay package, through which they received a three per-cent increase for the six-month period April 2002 to September 2002, with the salaries for October 2002 to March 2004 being calculated to bring them within 75 per cent of those in the private sector. I hope that teachers will be continuously assessed and evaluated for the sake of our children.
I am, etc.,
TAMON SHIRLEY
21 Weymouth Crescent
Washington Garden
Kingston 20
