In this case birdwatcher, you are partially right. However, it is important to note that I am not 'picking' on teachers in general, but I AM pointing out that some of the Houston teachers are unethical, and their Union is worse.
So far as receiving the money 'in good faith', try that line if your bank over credits your account by mistake. This is the same thing.
If, in your somewhat specious final point, if the bonus money was not due me, of course I would return it.
If I were the Houston school district, I would go to court to recover the money, and then disband the entire bonus program. That way the teachers and their union would not be faced with ethics problems like this in the future. They have already proved they are not up to the task.
