There is an ongoing nationwide debate on the issue of merit pay for teachers. Many national policy makers and media pundits have essentially said, "How can we improve the quality of education if we don't reward the best and brightest teachers with more money?" While I am never against giving more money to teachers, this idea will have a detrimental effect on learning. There is no way to determine who should get bonus money without negatively affecting students, and that makes it wrongheaded.
There are two main reasons why for the good of children this idea must be rejected. The first reason is based in my books, including Discipline with Dignity and Meeting Students Where They Live, that demonstrate clearly how rewards stop learning. Not only that, but there is a plethora of research, gathered from Alfred Denning to Alfie Kohn and others, demonstrating that bonus money reduces positive outcomes in the workplace. To use this kind of bonus for teachers is hypocritical, bad role modeling, ignoring what has been documented extensively about rewards and has no place in schools.