Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews argues that performance bonuses for teachers would undermine collegiality because “competition for money can bring out the worst in people.”

I disagree. Here’s why:

1. There is no empirical evidence that performance pay or bonuses would ruin teamwork. Mathews just has a hunch that they would.

2. Not all teamwork is beneficial. In fact, teamwork can be counterproductive if the team is headed in the wrong direction or if personality conflicts dominate.

3. Not all teachers like (or need) teamwork. By all means, allow teachers to work in teams, if they choose to do so, but also allow teachers to work alone.

4. Competition for money can (and does) bring out the best in people.

5. Most public schools are not the touchy-feely work environments imagined by people like Mathews. They are competitive places already, and a great deal of the teamwork that occurs is imposed on teachers by school administrators. Thus, it is not a choice between teamwork and competition. It is a choice between unrewarded and rewarded competition.