Merit pay is complex problem

I agree that it would be good to find a way to pay better teachers more than weaker teachers. But contrary to your editorial's assertion (June 27), the real issue in providing merit pay for teachers is the complexity of the problem. Saying that merit pay should be as simple as giving a grade for a class is the same kind of simplistic thinking that created the fiasco of splitting the Jordan School District.

The editorial says it's time for teachers who simply "phone it in" to be bucked from the horse so true professionals can run the show. Maybe in business it is OK to fire every substandard employee on the spot, but in a school, someone has to take care of every student every period. Until every classroom is filled by a "good" teacher, a less effective teacher must be used.

Fred Ash

Sandy