It is a shame that Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett does not want our schools to work together as a team to raise graduation rates. Bennett has made it clear that he wants principals to reward individual teachers for their outstanding efforts and not an entire school. I am glad to see teachers getting this extra recognition, but at what price will this recognition come?

Teachers share lessons and ideas with one another to motivate students and get students to enjoy school. With this system in place, teachers will no longer share their lessons that enthralled students and school environments will not be as friendly. Why would a teacher want to share an outstanding lesson with a colleague when they are competing for bonuses? Bennett needs to know that the teachers who really care are not in education for the money, but to build relationships and inspire young minds. Instead of pitting teachers against each other, Bennett should work on getting teachers to work with each other.

Robert Smith

Indianapolis