Editor:
Re: "Enrolment decline hits high schools" (Coast Reporter, May 21)
The School District No. 46 superintendent and the president of the Sunshine Coast Teachers' Association ought to be "run out of town on a rail" for disparaging the Elphi students who get it and who have organized a campaign in support of the merit principle.
Deborah Palmer and Jenny Garrels' crass dismissal of meritocracy versus "the founding principles of organized unions" smacks of early 20th century labour speak. If our senior educators and education executives cannot figure out how to quantify merit (i.e. become acquainted with 20th century management practices), we're all in trouble. To me, rewarding merit is the first line of defence against mediocrity.
So, spare us mind numbing excuses like "a complex time-tabling dilemma" being at the heart of this issue. Let's reward our educators who are popular, volunteer their time to help out with those most important extra-curricular activities and who get results - you know, the teachers who inspire our children to become tomorrow's leaders.
Rick Cloherty
Gibsons
