1/22/14 – Hump Day Heroes: Advanced Placement Teachers of Lee, MA. Kathleen Jasper January 22, 2014 This week’s Hump Day Heroes are Advanced Placement (AP) teachers in Lee Massachusetts. These teachers gave their schools $8,700 of merit pay they received for getting students to pass AP exams. WHAT!!?? Teachers are rewarded every time a student passes an AP exam. This reward can be anywhere from $150-$200 per passing student per test. But Lee Teachers felt accepting this extra money for performance went against their philosophical perspective on education; collectively, they decided to give the money back to their schools. They said, “Merit pay is an insult to our professionalism and a divisive tool designed to incite dissension among us in hopes of weakening our union, which is not only a political organization, but also a professional one, intended to protect the interests of both educators and students.” That is so gangster!! Congrats AP teachers of Lee MA! For standing up for what is right and not wavering on your beliefs even when enticed by money you DESERVE regardless of student performance, you are ConversationED’s Hump Day Heroes! Read the entire letter these teachers wrote to the editor of the Berkshire Eagle here. http://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/ci_24675094/letter-no-merit-pay-lee-p-teachers