Both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg had the brilliant idea to transplant a largely corporate ideal into the education sector. They've been giving money into programs that provide bonuses for teachers' performance. But studies have shown that there is no direct correlation between better teaching performance and the merit system—especially since it fosters competition which goes against the collaborative atmosphere that makes teachers (and even their classes) successful.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-americas-schools/2011/05/09/AFunW27G_story.html
