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Today's Letters: STAR plan judges teachers unfairly

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 8, 2007

As a Pasco County teacher of 11 years and as a parent of two very successful students in the Pasco County school system, I feel compelled to comment on teachers being labeled or accused of being lazy.

The STAR plan offends all teachers and should offend anyone who feels judging someone by someone else's success or failure is reasonable.

Teachers' success is not solely based on their tireless work ethics or their ability to convey the lessons appropriately and enthusiastically in the classroom.

Teachers' success is often not even known for years after the students have gotten through the system and have begun working and establishing their own families. Then, if a teacher is lucky, they may find out that because of not only what they taught but how they taught, they may have had an impact on a child. Tests are good to see if the students are getting what is being taught, and it helps with accountability, but you can't use this information to rate a teacher and then base bonus money on it, too.

I have no choice in who I am given to teach. I have no control on their home lives, friendships, self-motivation (though I try) or many outside influences. Ask a parent if they would want to be given money based on how well their child does in my class. I would say that they might feel as many teachers do: The answer would be no.

Judge me on my work ethics, my volunteer time, my leadership and even the observations of my administration. I can control me and my efforts, but dare not judge me on variables that I have no control over. Money is important, and I could use a bonus, but if it means that you judge me on someone else's actions, I say, "No, thank you."

As for the teachers at Hudson Elementary School, I have been privileged to observe many of them in action. Take into account the socioeconomics in the area, that elementary teachers teach much more than one subject, that there aren't enough hours in the day to teach everything Florida wants taught in one year per grade level and that lesson plans must now be written in accordance with a program called LFS that Pasco County has spent a lot of money on. The words overworked and underappreciated come to mind, not any other.

It's not easy saying no to financial help, but at some point teachers have to come together and say "Stop!" Perhaps you should come down to the schools and see for yourself. Perhaps you could substitute a class? It's so much more real when you do it yourself.

Rhonda Starr, Hudson Middle School teacher

Rising costs pricing people out of Pasco

I have one more reason to talk friends and relatives out of moving to Florida in general and Pasco County in particular.

My mother and I have owned our house for 23 years, and every year it gets more expensive to retain. Between higher taxes, insurance increases and now this ridiculous paving assessment bill, we can understand why other people are selling their homes and leaving Florida. With all the new development in Pasco County, we cannot believe the county cannot afford to pay for the paving of Forest Hills. Something is radically wrong with the fiscal priorities.

Some streets in Forest Hills needed repaving, but our street was in excellent shape. Years ago, the residents had paid to have the street paved and were told they would not be assessed again. I guess that promise was completely forgotten. My uncle, Frank Kapp, who owned the home until 1984, had paid for the street to be paved, while other residents on other streets never did.

Most people living here in Forest Hills, including my mother and myself, are retired and live on fixed incomes and cannot afford this bill.

Connie Stroup and Madge Roth, Holiday

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[Last modified April 7, 2007, 23:02:20]