I'm here because of something my father said to me this morning.

A few weeks ago, I had this indignant outburst after I read this letter to the editor in ST. Basically, the person suggested that there should be an active policy to send the best teachers to the worst schools. The letter didn't state the obvious implication that in that case, the better schools would have the worse teachers. So I went on this psychotic rant to my sister about what an insanely stupid suggestion this was.

And today, at breakfast, my father essentially said the same thing to me: "They should send all the good teachers to the bad schools... Let the good schools have the not so good teachers."

1) I am not against good teachers being sent to bad schools. I agree wholeheartedly that a good teacher makes all the difference in the education experience, and in this context, it affects how well you do and has a large impact to play on where you can go and what you can do later on in life.

2) "All schools are good schools, all teachers are good teachers" is clearly a lie. I don't know anyone who believes this and if I did meet someone who did, I would launch into a 10 minute speech about why it is stupid to believe so. The shitty truth is: some schools are better than others. Some teachers are A LOT better than others. And, from personal experience and stories I've heard, I would liken having a (really) bad teacher as a kind of punishment and a serious impediment to personal development and academic progress.

3) I admit openly that my opinion is very deeply linked to the fact that I've had good grades almost all my life and hence have gone to "good schools" with "good teachers". Making the suggestion that was posted in ST and what my father says implies that kids like me who work fucking hard and manage to excel should essentially be punished for our diligence and achievements. This is wrong. I am plain, blinding angry that someone would suggest this. And I don't care if you're my father but this opinion is shit and wrong.

4) The way forward for the education system in this country is to raise the wages of teachers substantially. The high demands of the job and the comparatively lower pay puts many people off. Teaching is a "back-up" career for many and not a first choice. This in turn is reflected in the quality of teachers- which is the root of the problem in many senses. You need to spend money to make all school good schools most critically by ensuring a higher degree of truth in the statement all teachers are good teachers.

The solution does not lie in condemning any group of students to bad teachers.

I know this is hypocritical in some sense. Because given that there is a limited number of good teachers, I have benefited from the meritocratic decision to assign them to good schools teaching students with better grades. But I don't think this invalidates my opinion that the proffered suggestion is utter shit.