Should Teachers Get a Bonus When Their Students Score Well on Standardised Tests?
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Ideally, incentivizing anything should lead to a boost in productivity and efficiency. When it comes to the matter of teachers getting bonuses for students’ achievements in standardized tests, this idea loses a bit of its credibility. While rewarding teachers–who already struggle with a mediocre salary–might not be a negative act, it does not necessarily impact student learning.
Some Concerns About This Approach
In the USA, the state’s teachers have pointed out several reasons why bonuses do not incentivize or better their teaching methods.
Several doubts were raised about the fairness of the bonus. Student merit does not necessarily dictate how good a teacher is at their job. A batch of students might simply be brighter than the last.
Teachers are afraid that the pressure of earning that bonus could deter new teachers from joining the workforce. Most teachers agree that they do not teach for the money. Adding an unpredictable pay scale to the mix might lead to fewer people taking up teaching as a profession.
Sharing methods and ideas to better a classroom is key in education. A cash reward throws a wedge between faculty and leads to competition and divisiveness. The need to earn that bonus might also lead to poorer standards of education, since teachers will be less inclined to share methods that worked for their class with others.
Can Merit-Based Pay Improve Student Learning?
There is very little evidence about the effectiveness of merit-based pay for teachers. However, there are some ways to include bonuses for teachers that do not encourage unhealthy competition. In Boston, some public schools reward the entire staff for overall achievement. This fosters community within the staff and facilitates the sharing of ideas and methods. While this method seems great, boards across the USA continue to experiment with merit-based pay, despite the lack of evidence that it works.
FAQs
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Does a teachers’ merit-based pay affect student learning?
There has been no evidence to show that the pay scale for a teacher affects student learning.
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Are teachers motivated to teach better if promised a bonus?
Teachers have famously said that they do not teach for the money. While a bonus is appreciated, it has no real benefits for the teaching community.
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Do bonuses improve student learning?
There is very little evidence about the effectiveness of merit-based pay for teachers.
At PlanetSpark, we devise teaching methods that foster community not only between students but between teachers as well!
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What are commonly known concerns for teachers about this issue?
Teachers are afraid that the pressure of earning that bonus could deter new teachers from joining the workforce.
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Has there been any success in using merit-based pay?
Boards across the USA continue to experiment with merit-based pay, despite the lack of evidence that it works.
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Why do some people think that merit-based pay may not work?
Sharing methods and ideas to better a classroom is key in education. A cash reward throws a wedge between faculty and leads to competition and divisiveness.
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