Drive-carrots/sticks and the benefits of autonomy

Discuss a time when you’ve seen one of the seven deadly flaws of carrots and sticks in action. What lessons might you or others learn from the experience? Have you seen instances when carrots and sticks have been effective. 

I work in a district that is for the most part high achieving. There are 3 Title I schools in the district and of course they have struggled with meeting AYP benchmarks. I have had a chance to spend 12 years as a classroom teacher and 3 years as an administrator in Title I schools. As an administrator I watched my teachers going above and beyond the call of duty to reach out to help the children who are socio-economically disadvantaged to make a difference. I work closely with the other principals in the district and compare my work load with theirs. It is quite astounding to see the difference in the way the different schools are treated. The school in our district with an API of 961 gets all the credit and accolades while the Title I schools get criticized for the lower scores. It is an example of the carrot and stick because those who make it reap the benefits because it is perceived as if they have done something special when in fact the affluent community sends the kids prepared and they due well in spite of the work being done. The Title I teachers are punished with threats of sanctions and penalties and the worst part public criticism.

In education I have seen carrots and sticks in place for students where I feel it is beneficial. The school I work at has two Special Day Classes and the behavior management strategies are positive and negative reinforcement. It is a great way for these students to learn the difference between following rules and braking rules in the area of remaining safe. Students with certain disabilities do well with rewards and consequences and when a teacher is managing many students at a time it is truly a safe way to approach behavior management.

As you think about your own best work, what aspect of autonomy has been most important to you? Autonomy over what you do (task), when you do it (time), how you do it (technique), or with whom you do it (team)?

I love direction from my superiors as well as feedback. I do like to do things at my own pace and in my own though. I work in a district that truly believes in the Pink philosophies, so I have autonomy on how I choose to do things at the site level. I receive support whenever I need it, but I am trusted to do my job and to me that is a great sign of respect. I love to develop programs and I am given carte blanche to do what I want most of the time, so I pretty much live my professional life with great amounts of autonomy.