LISD teachers get bonuses: Question remains if students really benefit

It would be better if it were for Student excellence

It looks like many of Laredo Independent School District's teachers got an end of year bonus to end 2010 on a high note. While non-teachers (custodians, kitchen workers, paraprofessionals) received a rather paltry $175, LISD teachers received $3,000 if  90 percent of their students maintained a passing score on the 2009, 2010 TAKS tests. For example, if a teacher had 20 students, and 18 of them scored a 70 or above, that teacher raked in $3,000. Sometimes, a "passing" score might be even less than 70, depends on what the standard is for that particular year. LISD's 1.76 Million dollar performance pay grant was funded by the state of Texas.

The fact that most of a teacher's class is scoring about a 70 on their TAKS does not necessarily mean our students are learning. It simply means that a particular teacher has done a fair job of preparing them to take a test. Students are tested year round and it's only logical that at a certain point they are going to do well enough to pass these tests.

 In September, there's the B.O.Y., beginning of year benchmark test, predictably followed by the M.O.Y. (middle of year) benchmark. Then, as soon as the New Year rolls around, students' attention is focused on whatever TAKS test is next. It's either practically all math/reading/writing/science depending on what TAKS test immediately awaits them.

There is no longer any such thing as a rounded education;that is a thing of the past. Instead of students being exposed to all the traditional subjects and becoming aware of their inter-connectedness, they instead learn but a few subjects in a vacuum. This, does not a quality education make. The teachers of LISD may benefit from this approach and even reap some benefits. However, the pupils of LISD, their parents and Laredo as a whole, will continue to suffer because of it.