I realize that others have written about the magnificent piece by Joe Stiglitz titled In No One We Trust. There were two paragraphs that spoke directly to me, and upon which I would like to ruminate.
After writing about the strange idea that financial executives already being paid millions needs stock options to motivate good performance, Stiglitz offers this paragraph:
Similarly, teachers must be given incentive pay to induce them to exert themselves. But teachers already work hard for low wages because they are dedicated to improving the lives of their students. Do we really believe that giving them $50 more, or even $500 more, as incentive pay will induce them to work harder? What we should do is increase teacher salaries generally because we recognize the value of their contributions and trust in their professionalism. According to the advocates of an incentive-based culture, though, this would be akin to giving something for nothing.In answer to the question he poses, whether giving teachers some more money will motivate them to work harder, I can speak not only for myself but from knowledge of the research literature and the many expressions by teachers over the years: NO. It will not.
Please follow me below the squiggle while i ruminate upon this.
