Performance-based pay

After reading two recent submissions about performance-based pay, I strongly support the concept. Although Ed McCoy's argument was very persuasive, I agree with what Cynthia Cooke wrote. There are too many teachers in the country who are fine examples of the teacher Cooke in her first example cited.

Take, for example, a highly qualified teacher who arrives at classes early but when she is at classes, she teaches very little or, most of the times, none at all. She, however, receives her full salary every month when, in fact, she did not work for it. If it was the case that that teacher was being paid based on her performance one would notice a change in her attitude towards her classes.

I strongly believe that performance-based pay is fair to teachers and I would like to see all teachers behaving as if they are being paid based on their performances.

- Shawn Richards, Kingston 6

Calling Kingfish

No matter how many times we call the Lawrence Tavern police to report crime in Cavaliers district, they always say they do not have any vehicles.

More than 10 cases of robberies have taken place since last August and no arrest has been made, even though there have been several reports that this is being done by thugs in the area.

We need Kingfish.

- Concerned Citizen, Cavaliers, Kingston 9

Boyne's muddled thinking

When did Ian Boyne's thinking become murky? The Constitution is very clear - dual citizenship is not allowed except for citizens of Commonwealth countries.

The Constitution and laws are meant to be shackles. In his article, 'Dual citizenship, budget and values', which appeared in The Sunday Gleaner of March 15, he takes a very ambiguous approach to the rule of law. In the particular case of the dual citizenship, it is not whether we like this or like that, it is what the law clearly states. The brazen put-down of the Constitution by those on high can only trickle down to the masses. No wonder we have such flagrant violations of the laws of this country. Those who should set the example can only set bad ones.

Now, we the people through our representatives, can change the Constitution/laws as we so deem. The article would have better served our interest if presented in this context. We do not have the right to individually choose which law we observe and which we do not.

- Richard Newman, newman-r@sbcglobal.net, Kingston