Just Plain Bill
Seen on TV – Teacher promises
students money for improving test scores?
If I hadn’t seen
and heard it myself, I wouldn’t have believed that a teacher would actually say
that to her class prior to their annual standardized test. The story was told
to millions of viewers during the introduction segment of Jeopardy, at the break during the first round.
The teacher made
that statement to demonstrate the generosity of her students. Upon earning
their financial reward (nee bribe), the students offered to donate the money to
the school’s charity campaign. Good for the students! Bad for the teacher.
While the
students did the honorable thing by donating their “winnings”, I am blown away
by that teacher’s simplistic approach to motivation. I would assign that
teacher – and any others who feel that you can pay for performance – to read
and write a 500 word report on Alfie Kohn’s,
award-winning book now 20 years past: Punished
by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and
Other Bribes.
I guess that teacher – and too
many others like her – feel the students must have been coasting or sandbagging
on other tests.
Sad state of affairs!
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