There are so many factors that affect how well a child does in school, how can a teacher's pay be based on merit? What does being a good teacher mean? I consider myself to be one of the good ones. There are some kids out there that just don't care how well they do on a test. They don't do their homework or assignments. They put forth very little effort. In addition, these kids are usually,not always, the ones that miss the most days of school, go on vacation during the school year, or are absent more than others. I will not take the blame for these children. I will try to get them the make up work that they need but there is little to no time to work one on one with a child. Even if I give up my lunch break, stay after school with this child, etc. the time that they have missed is gone. I am not supposed to take recess from a child any longer because it is more important that the children get out and play and is school policy. So, my question is, what would my merit pay be based on? Grades? Test scores? Board members don't go into the classroom regularly to see how it all works, how can they be the judges? Most parents, not all, only become involved with education when it is time for a contract negotiation or if their child is failing. They are not capable of judging. In the classroom, you rarely, if ever, see a superintendent. They can't be the judge. Who decides who the good ones are and based on what? We can provide students the materials, skills, etc that they need to be successful but if they choose not to use them there is very little we can do. It is like a doctor telling a person that they need to lose weight. They tell them what to do, give them a diet, etc. If that person chooses to eat fast food every day, even though they know the right thing to do, should the doctor not get paid? It goes back to the old phrase, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.