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Lee teachers donate AP bonuses to school
By Laura Barrett
A dvanced Placement teachers in Lee had a dilemma that many AP teachers have
faced across the state. They were
interested in receiving support from
the Massachusetts Mathematics and
Science Initiative grant program to
increase student participation in AP
math, science and English classes,
but they were strongly opposed to
one ironclad condition: that teachers
receive a bonus — merit pay — for
each student receiving a qualifying
score of 3, 4 or 5 on one of the
designated exams.
Through bargaining, the Lee
teachers found a way to donate to their
schools all of the $8,700 in bonus
money that they qualified for under
the MMSI — commonly pronounced
“mimsy” — while still meeting the
terms of the grant program.
Certain locals have rejected the
MMSI grants altogether because
they found the merit pay provision
offensive. Some of these locals are
participating in alternative AP training
organized by MTA local presidents
and AP teachers in collaboration with
superintendents.
Others, such as Lee, have
established voluntary bonus donation
mechanisms. And still others have
decided that the program’s benefits
outweigh the downside of being forced
to accept the controversial bonus money.
Lee may be the only district in
which 100 percent of the bonus money
was given back to the school.
In a Dec. 7 letter to The Berkshire
Eagle signed by all five participating
AP teachers, English teacher Jane
McEvoy explained, “As a union, we
strongly oppose ‘merit pay’ on both
philosophical and ethical grounds.
First, the notion of ‘merit pay’ suggests
that high-achieving students are more
worthy of a teacher’s time and effort
than average-achieving students or
those who struggle. Refusing to accept
the ‘merit pay’ has allowed us to put
the money back into our departments
to enhance the learning of all our
students. …
“Second, ‘merit pay’ for certain
teachers of certain students in certain
classes is inequitable to professional
educators. In our view, it is a way to
undermine union efforts to ensure
fair and equal pay
for equal work,
education and
experience.”
Pam Briggs,
a math teacher,
offered additional
reasons why
the teachers
unanimously agreed
to donate the money to Lee Middle and
High School.
“Number one, not every teacher
had an opportunity to teach an AP
course, so in terms of equity, why
should we be rewarded just because
we happen to be teaching an AP
course?” she said. “Why are we
singled out just because we have
those students at one particular time
versus those who have educated
those same students throughout their
academic careers?”
The MMSI grants provide funding
for program management, teacher
professional development, Saturday
classes for students, $100 payments
to students for each qualifying score
they receive and bonuses for teachers
that include $100 for every qualifying
score that each of their students
receives.
The bonus funds that Lee teachers
donated ranged from $700 to $4,700
per teacher.
Math teacher Tom McCormack
said his colleagues objected to the
bonuses for students as well as for the
teachers.
“Philosophically, we don’t believe
in these extrinsic motivators,” he said.
“I don’t believe that any of the kids
earned qualifying scores because they
thought they were going to be earning
money, nor did we work harder
because we thought that if our students
earned the scores we’d get the money.”
“Let’s be frank,” added Mary
Verdi, an English teacher. “We found it
professionally and personally insulting
Jane McEvoy
Continued on next page
By Nick Fitzgerald
T his time was invaluable — the opportunity to work with peers from
other districts was the best
professional development time I
have had in my career.”
“Great to talk with other
teachers who are doing the same
curriculum.”
“It was amazing. I have
already used two strategies.”
The MAAP is an interdistrict
collaboration of Advanced
Placement and International
Baccalaureate teachers, local
association presidents and
“
MAAP promotes
achievement
and collaboration
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