Dozens of teachers held signs and chanted “nix S.B. six!” outside the Winter Park office of State Rep. Dean Cannon in a protest against education reform bills being pushed through the state legislature.
Teachers said basing their pay on student test scores isn’t fair to them or students.”How would that make the student feel if their teacher gets paid or doesn’t get paid based on how well they do?” questioned one teacher, as her colleagues quickly gathered around, eager to speak their minds.
Another teacher said education professionals are being ignored in the quest for reform by “a bunch of legislators who know nothing about education.”
Republicans in Tallahassee, Governor Charlie Crist and the Obama Administration are pushing for merit pay reforms, but protesting teachers called it a power grab that undermines local school boards and skirts the democratic process.
“The whole bill is throwing the baby out with the bath water, and it’s not a good idea,” a teacher said.
They believe education reforms would make low performing schools worse and cause good teachers to leave the state.
