Note to New York Times: What Motivates Teachers

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1. rodclarken says:

   August 7, 2012 at 8:05 am

   Many of the reform efforts are attempts to use incentives and external
   motivations, to get students and teachers to do what the reformers want, namely to
   perform better on tests. It is a counterproductive approach. Firstly, teachers “differ from
   those who select corporate careers. Education attracts people with both a strong service
   ethic and a desire for job security, not entrepreneurs with a thirst for risk and
   competition” (Evans, 2000).

   Secondly, their “occupation permits them maximal freedom and minimal
   supervision” and they “cherish their freedom and tend to see themselves—and to behave–as artisans in their separate studios, practicing their craft as they see fit” (Evans, 2000).

   External incentives tend to dampen internal motivation (Deci, 1971; Deci,
   Koestner, and Ryan, 1999; Fehr and Falk, 2002; Kohn, 1999). Critics of teachers are
   operating under Theory X, that most workers are lazy and irresponsible, rather than
   Theory Y that assumes teachers are self-motivated and responsible. This is a false
   assumption.

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   • Duane Swacker says:

     August 7, 2012 at 9:10 am

     “This is a false assumption.” By “this” I’m assuming you mean Theory X and not Theory Y, is that correct?

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