Re “Department of Education lays off over 1,300 workers” (March 12): As a public school teacher, I agree with the sentiment that change is needed in the U.S. public school system because The Nation’s Report Card continues to show that most students are not at grade level in reading and math. Firing employees of the federal Department of Education will reduce istrative costs, which might help justify other spending, but it is not clear that lower istrative costs will have any impact on student achievement.
The biggest factor impacting student achievement is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult and usually not worth the istrative and legal effort to fire or try to fire an ineffective teacher. In the absence of any significant metaphorical sticks, school districts in the United States need to use carrots to better motivate and reward effective teachers if they want to sensibly improve student outcomes.
— Miles Timpson, San Carlos
