More Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation

This time it’s on the teacher side. So now we have School Districts paying teachers to improve the test scores of their students, School Districts paying students to come to school, and parents paying students to get better grades. Does anyone see a train wreck coming?

This will spiral to a system that is so distorted and has absolutely nothing to do with learning.

Mixed feelings over bonus pay
On Tuesday, the Houston Independent School District began giving out the first of its $14 million set-aside for performance pay to those teachers who raise student test scores. Some teachers are concerned that the pay will create rifts among those teachers who reap bonuses averaging $1,800 and those who get nothing. Houston Chronicle (1/24)

If it isn’t already obvious, a person that is motivated by extrinsic rewards must continue to get greater and greater rewards or they will become disappointed and lose interest.

W. Edwards Deming on the Future of Capitalism