Published: January 15, 1997

Merit Pay Won't Work in Schools

In a school district where the majority of students live below poverty and teachers are crying out for lower class size, higher standards of conduct, greater academic rigor, an end to social promotions, and relief from a blizzard of unnecessary paperwork, Rochester, N.Y., Superintendent Clifford B. Janey offers merit pay as the answer to our problems. ( "Incentive Pay," Nov. 6, 1996.) How sad--especially for our students.

There are lots of ways to improve education, but merit pay is not one of them.

Merit pay won't make our classrooms less crowded; won't make schools safer; won't get parents more involved in their children's schoolwork; won't end social promotions; won't lead to higher behavioral and academic standards; and it certainly won't improve...