Teachers, parents and students came to Tallahassee to protest a bill that would implement performance pay for public school teachers. As House representatives debated their version of the legislation Monday, a few protestors took time to tell Sunshine State News why they oppose the measure.
Im against it because I dont think its good for the students. I think its going to force teachers to teach to the test, and all my children will do is learn how to do is to take a standardized test.
- Katrina Roddenberry, mother of three at Riversink Elementary School and Riversprings Middle School in Wakulla County
The problem is most of the teachers in the state, their base pay is too low to keep the really talented people. So, we've got to take a look at that first before rewarding the teachers to excel.
- Todd Bayers, former teacher at Wakulla County High School, Crawfordville
I know a lot of kids who would just flunk a test if they didnt like their teacher, and thats really bad.
- Jackie Burnham, 9th grade student, Florida State University Schools High
I think an incentive for students to perform better is a plus, but I dont think that the standards they have listed or being able to dictate to us what to do is appropriate. Theres no teacher input. Theres no reaching out, asking the teachers, What can we do? How can we support you? What do you need? Its more, This is how you do it. This is how its going to be based.' End of line.
- Amanda Babcock, 5th grade teacher, Oak Hammock K-8 School, Port St. Lucie
We are opposed. We have a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant that goes 7 years, $100 million. We are going to be implementing a lot of the reforms that both the Senate and House would like to see, but it is very much a collaborative effort between pretty much teachers, administration, the teachers union, all together. And it's led by teachers.
- David Peacock, biology teacher at Spoto High School in Hillsborough County
