Question

Consider merit pay for teachers. Schools face constant pressure to change their management approaches to improve performance, which is usually assessed by standardized reading, math, and science scores. In most schools teacher’s pay is determined by seniority, years of total teaching experience, and credentials. Pay is rarely based on performance, which is contrary to the belief among parents and private sector. Parents and business leaders lament that there are no carrots/sticks used to motivate teachers. Consequently, there has been greater push to implement some form of merit pay to improve the motivation. Which of the following statements will disapprove the claim of the parents and business leaders?

• A. A recent study suggested that teachers are self-motivated.
• B. Teachers are largely motivated by financial incentives; so pay for performance will induce greater and more effective effort.
• C. Learning cannot be measured reliably and accurately by a test given once a year.
• D. Teaching is a solo activity, there is a little interdependence with other co-curricular and extra-curricular activities in the school.
• E. To err is human. And hence stick should be used to reduce errors.

Hint:

When asked to identify a statement that {disapproves} or {weakens} a claim, look for evidence that directly contradicts the assumption behind the claim—in this case, the assumption that teachers need external incentives.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the claim of parents and business leaders.
They believe teachers are not sufficiently motivated and hence need external incentives (like merit pay, carrots/sticks) to improve performance.
Step 2: Identifying which statement disproves this.
If teachers are already self-motivated, then the concern that they require carrots/sticks is invalid. This directly challenges the parents’ and leaders’ claim.
Step 3: Analyzing options.
(B) Suggests teachers respond to financial incentives → supports merit pay, not disapprove.
(C) Challenges testing methods, but not motivation → unrelated.
(D) Talks about independence of teaching, but not motivation → irrelevant.
(E) Suggests punishment should be used → aligns with parents’ complaint, not disapprove.
(A) States teachers are self-motivated → directly contradicts the claim that they need external carrots/sticks. Step 4: Conclusion.
Therefore, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{Teachers are self-motivated (Option (A)}} \]