The current debate about performance-based pay for teachers is truly irritating. There is a general assumption, fed by the teachers and followed up by many that wish to link pay to students' performance.

What clearly makes sense is linking it to those measurable features of the teachers' performance that can really be observed, such as punctuality at school and at class, preparation of and delivery of lessons, ongoing and accurate assessment of children's work, involvement in extra-curricular activities, comportment and ability to manage the class. All these say nothing about students' achievement, but in fact, are vital to the success of the student.

Why is it so hard to measure these things? I have worked in a system where these things were done routinely, and teachers were held accountable for them. It worked very well.

- Alison Davis

carstud2@yahoo.com

Bless you, BCJ

Finally the watchdog is awake and is barking at anything that moves.

I feel extremely proud of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica. They have done the job we have employed them to do. "Bless yu heart".

I can sleep at nights now. 'Ruff ruff!' Catch them, Bruno, catch them! Good dog!"

- Conway Cameron

Moneague PO

St Ann

Don't blame dancehall

For the past two weeks or so, dancehall music has yet again come in for some serious blows from those in high positions. I would like to remind the critics of this genre of music that the society has crumbled not as a result of the content of our music, but instead, our failure as a nation to address the real problems.

The society is lacking proper parents and is suffering severely from an inability to comprehend, which is a result of our poor education system. hence we jump on the weakest structural body (mainly because it isn't properly structured) and we blame it.

The Broadcasting Commission will achieve nothing from enforcing a ban on the daggerin' songs. Daggerin', as well as other and future dancehall crazes will continue to emerge from and thrive in the streets. They have clearly forgotten that dancehall has never needed the media to survive, because it has always been the voice of the underground.

But in an era of 16 radio stations and a barrage of local cable channels, competition has forced the various media houses to turn to dancehall music for their own survival.

- Vladimir Bismarck

vladimirbismarck@yahoo.com

Kingston