U.S. teachers are more interested in collaborating and getting support from administrators to promote student achievement than in boosting their paychecks, according to a survey of more than 40,000 K-12 teachers released last week.
Most teachers surveyed said they feel students in their states are doing well in school, but they believe less than 75 percent will graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and work. To improve students’ chances at success, a majority of teachers surveyed said they would like to see tougher academic standards that are the same in every state, despite the extra work common academic standards could create for them.
Most respondents value nonmonetary rewards, such as time to collaborate with other teachers and a supportive school leadership, over bonuses and higher salaries. Only 28 percent felt performance pay would have a strong impact, and 30 percent said performance pay would have no impact at all. The survey also found that teachers don’t want to see their students—or themselves—judged on the results of one test.
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive between March 10 and June 18, 2009. It was paid for by the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Scholastic Inc., of New York City.
