Classic

Here’s something that is just so classic for this day and age.

As I’ve mentioned before there are so many contradicting studies showing results for (or no results) for various aspects of the education system. Here are two studies – one showing improvement in achievement when merit pay plans are used. The other shows that incentives don’t keep teachers from being absent from school.

I’ve argued previously that incentives are NOT good for schools. I believe that incentives, merit pay, pay for performance, and other such measures are a clear signal that there is something wrong with the education system. These measures have been used in business for years and there as well I see them as a sign that there is something wrong with the way the business is managed and run.

Why is it that the Education System is just now grabbing on to these methods? I believe it is because making real and substantive changes are NOT part of the plan nor interest of the people involved in education and education policy. Using incentives and the like are just one more distraction from actually doing something useful to help young people learn.

Study: Student achievement improves under merit-pay plans
Student achievement improves when their teachers are paid for their performance, according to an analysis published in the September issue of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. “The evidence certainly suggests when you offer incentives, you’re likely to get better results,” said co-author Michael J. Podgursky, a University of Missouri-Columbia professor of economics. ScienceDaily (9/4)

Florida incentive programs don’t keep teachers in school
Florida schools aiming to curb teacher absences through incentives found that sick days actually increased at most schools. “Teachers tried very hard about being here because it puts more work on them when they’re out of school,” said elementary principal Helen Gleicher. “When you have a staff that big, things happen.” The Palm Beach Post (9/3)

Unintended Consequences