Saturday, October 15, 2005

Bonuses for teachers based on students' test results

Teaching is an admirable job, but really in America, often quite underpaid. But considering the results many schools have, you are getting what you pay for. So the idea of giving teachers bonuses according to their students' testing results seems like a great idea. I wonder what arguments are going to be raised against this successful incentive program eventually?

2 Comments:

Blogger dawn said...

A potential objection, valid in my opinion, is that if teachers are paid based on test results, they will be virutally forced teach to the test. Surely this option does not seem appealing. Plus, some aspects of teaching quality cannot be objectively measured by tests.
An acquaintance of mine is teaching English literature at a public high school in a teacher shortage area, and after a few months of the job, he has decided he will not be a highschool teacher: Rather than being given the opportunity to meet his students where they are, he is instructed to teach them specific material for testing purposes, and he finds it insurmountably frustrating.
One of the main reasons I am not even considering a career in high school teaching is that I know I couldn't stand teaching under such circumstances.

2:36 AM  
Blogger CaliValleyGirl said...

IP,

Good point.

However, I would hope that they could still tweek around this incentive program and make it work for both the students and the teachers, so that the kids aren't just prepped. It's still a good idea, even if it's still imperfect.

10:25 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home