To the New York Post, Nov. 5, 2007

Nov 5, 2007 4:01 PM

To the Editor:

The fact is that Ravitch is a fiercely independent thinker. She is a nationally recognized education expert who knows chapter and verse about the many challenges facing our nation's public schools.

She has praised me, and she has excoriated me. Regardless of whether any of us agree with her, policymakers and elected officials of all political stripes should listen when she weighs in on education issues.

On a factual note, Wylde is also wrong in her characterization of the schoolwide bonus plan as merit pay.

Unlike merit-pay plans that provide financial incentives to individual educators, the schoolwide bonus plan will reward the entire staff of any participating school that shows a significant gain in academic achievement.

Randi Weingarten, President
United Federation of Teachers