Competition in Public Schools - A Loss for All

"In the District of Columbia, contrary to expectations, reading scores on national tests dropped and achievement gaps grew after a new test-based teacher-evaluation system was installed. In Portugal, a study of test-based merit pay attributed score declines to the negative effects of teacher competition, leading to less collaboration and sharing of knowledge."

This quote from the EdWeek article "Value-Added Evaluation Hurts Teaching" supports my current findings on this matter: In public education, market based principles of competition, school choice, and incentive pay have destructive effects on learning.  


I used to think that these principles would increase student outcomes in school, just like they do in sports and business, leading to increased productivity and intrinsic motivation for success.  However, the 'learning mind' thrives in much different climates than a for profit business or a basketball team in a NCAA tournament.  Just as a desert cacti would drown in a the deluge of a tropical rainforest, the 'academic learning mind' is extinguished amidst competitive, individualistic, and incentivised climates.