I always wished my parents would pay me for getting good grades. I always thought, “now that would be some easy money!” No such luck. Many of my friends did get paid for grades, I just wasn’t lucky enough. Now I am starting to think my parents had the right idea.
Nightline did a story tonight about the DC school district. It was about a pay-for-grades program that rewards kids for earning good grades (other factors, such as good behavior and attendance could have an effect on pay-off as well.) Should we pay students for good grades?
On one hand I think it’s a great motivator for kids who are otherwise hard to move. Money is relevant and real to today’s kids. This article points out that kids “can do out there and make $50 illegally . . . we have to do something to compete with that.” Another site says, “whatever it takes to get them to learn.”
On the other hand, I agree with the many opponents of these programs. Does the end justify the means? This article points out that, “you really want them . . . doing well on their own for the internal satisfaction of a job well done.” I often feel that kids today are responding to intrinsic motivation less and less. But is beefing up the extrinsic motivation really the right direction to go? Does that make for a responsible citizen down the road?
Another issue to consider is the money. Where is the money coming from? I certainly don’t it coming from money that could have gone to teacher salaries! According to this source, Chicago’s program was funded by a research study and private donations. However, this more recent note points out the both NYC and Chicago will no longer have this type of program because of lack of funding.
Tesoro has a program called Gallons for Grades which, since 1997, has rewarded As and Bs with free gas. If you’re against pay-for-grades programs, are you against this program as well? Or is it different because it’s not sponsored by the school? What about parents who pay kids for grades? It’s all sending the same message, right? What about insurance companies (like those discussed in this article) who give discounts for drivers with good grades?
One thing I can say is that I do applaud these districts for thinking out of the box. Nothing is going to be resolved or “fixed” if we keep doing what we’ve always done. As far as paying kids for grades, I’m not sure. What do you think?
I saw a report on this DC school district tonight as I was making supper. The school administrator was featured on USA Network as one of Tom Brokaw's Original Characters on Route 50. I agree that it is impressive that educators are thinking out of the box to solve problems. That is a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI don't pay my kids for grades even though they cite many examples of their friends who do get paid. I tell them they don't get paid for doing what they're supposed to do.
I can see that this group of DC might have to be treated different. My kids know they have many ways available to them to make money. Inner-city kids are most often exposed to illegal ways of making money and nothing else.
If they see an alternative to making money with good grades, maybe it will keep them out of jail and earning an education!
I think paying for grades is a fine tradition on a family level. I am not sure it actually accomplishes anything but it is a fun motivator for kids. I'm like you, Heather - I envied my friends who received this. On the other hand, schools paying for grades strikes me as a particularly bad precident for any school to set. First, you're right - schools have much better things to spend money on, such as teachers salaries and these things have been demonstrated to actually help academically. Second, we simply shouldn't have to pay them for doing what they should have been doing in the first place. Whats next? Payment for going to the bathroom by themselves. We would be sending the message that money, not education, is the point.
ReplyDeleteIt's a terrible idea.
I'm not a huge fan of pay for grade either. I agree with Kirsten in why pay kids for doing something they should do. However, I do realize that life is about competition. We are all competing for jobs example. The sooner kids learn this the better so does paying them for good grades just start this process early? Does it help kids realize that whether they like it or not to advance in the real world they will be competing and have to be the best of the best? Or, will it encourage more cheating just to get the final reward?
ReplyDeletePay for grades? My parents never offered up this opportunity, perhaps it would have motivated me to work harder for my grades when I was in high school. I agree with Heather, students are less and less focused on intrinsic motivation. The fact is that they want to see the "money" before they start working. It seems to me this generation of students simply feel entitled?
ReplyDeleteStill, I have a difficult time sitting on one side or the other on this one. Teachers constantly hit home the idea of working hard in school to position yourself for a great job, good quality of life, and high standard of living. In the end we are selling ideas that have monetary value. So you can easily make the connection to pay for grades.
Lastly, to determine others fate is always easier from the outside looking in. Who of us has grow up or attended school in an inner city environment. Sure I can sit in North Dakota and say that paying for grades is wrong, but life conditions in Chicago and other cities may warrant extreme reforms where indeed, if you can find a funder, grades could be paid for. However, if that is the case, where grades are improved upon and paid for, then the teacher should get a 50% share. After all, that teacher is likely underpaid and working in less than optimal conditions while still improving student achievement. Shouldn't he/she benefit as well?
I wish I would have seen this episode of Nightline, it sounds interesting. I like the idea of paying for grades because it is a different attempt to motivation, but as you said who is going to pay for this? I don’t think school districts have money laying around for paying for grades. Even if you do get a sponsor, how does this show the kids that it is their responsibility to get good grades? Good grades get you into college and means you are learning. Without learning, how would you be able to get even a simple job? You couldn’t even work at a fast food restaurant if you could not read. You could not be able to read the computer monitor for inputting orders or to be able to make someone food. Without math, you couldn’t work at the cash register. Going to school and earning good grades is something that you need to succeeded in life. In America it is your right to get an education, but what you do with it, is up to that individual. Like you said, I like the idea and am open to it, but I’m not sure it is the right answer to motivating students to get good grades.
ReplyDelete