kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

On the news, they just showed a special, were kids in HS, were getting money for making the grade. The classes were for AP classes, and for every class that they succeed in they get $100. its all privately funded and not coming out of the schools budget. Some parents are annoyed b/c the school is making a decision on how there kids are to be rewarded away from them. I say hey if it gets the kid to work harder and its not coming out of your pocket, why complain. And colleges are complaining saying this is not for the child, but a way for the school to up its raking.

Also the results of this program they have seen a increase in them going on to college, they did not say if the child stays in college or how they did.

Whats your opinion on that?

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I don't agree with it. I see this with my stepkids...they don't do anything for pride or purpose anymore. They do it for money or video games. What about when they go to college? Who's paying them then? And will they be able to be self motivated?

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I agree with you - if it's privately funded...why not reward them? The parents are concerned that it's taken away from them - they shouldn't be...reward them additionally if you want to.

It's AP classes - the students in those classes work hard to get into them, and then take the tests....gaining college credits.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I agree that it is taking control away from the parents. I don't care that it's privately funded. I honestly think it's inappropriate.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Im not sure if I agree with the school doing this kind of rewarding but my boss does this with her kid- she pays him 100$ for every A he earns. Honestly, I think this is a good idea and may do this with my kid one day. I beleive in rewarding children. Sometimes when you are a kid you cannot see the big picture, you cannot fathom how getting good grades and working hard will help you later in life. but i know that teenagers want material things and that is a priority for them so why not make them work hard at school and get money for it? Its the same concept as working hard in life and earning money. Plus its an investment as a parent in their future.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Ok 2 things. One, I agree that if the parent does not see this as a fit rewarding system they should have some say in it. It is their kid, afterall.

Secondly, why are AP students getting this reward? Are they not already good students if they qualify for AP classes? Why not reward students who really need the motivation?

I guess it does help the school look better on paper if more students are taking AP classes and succeeding in them, but to me I think the energies and resources could benefit more elsewhere.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I don't think I like the idea of schools giving kids cash for earning A's, but rewards systems in the school are a good idea.

When I was in HS I was a member of the Renaissance Committee. It was a program that rewarded students for academic achievement. If you passed all of your classes you earned a green level card, if you're average was above a 75 you earned a yellow level card, etc. For each level you went up you were eligible for more rewards. There were weekly raffles for small prizes, and free yearbooks, prom tickets, stuff like that. And once a semester there was a big rally that you could only attend as a card holder. Local stores also gave discounts to card holders.

It really worked. Students loved the prizes, but there was also a lot of pride in being a card holder. I saw a lot of students that hadn't cared about their classes before put in more effort because they didn't want to feel left out.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I think that rewards are a short term solution and to dangle money or prizes over a child's head as an incentive is tantamount to treating the kid like a lab rat.

Get the A = Take the right at the fork in the maze.
Get the $$ = Get the Cheese.

I am a parent and I see it with my own kids... "Guys - if you PLEASE stop running around I will buy you a treat at the store." They stop running, I get them a treat and then - they start running again. It's temporary obedience.

There are countless studies showing that a system that motivates people with rewards produces inferior work over time. People become less interested in the work and more interested in the reward. It dramatically reduces the intrinsic motivation to 'do a good job'.

I am not saying I am ABOVE using rewards or enticements for them to behave. I am human and I fall prey to this - but honestly I am trying very hard to reduce how often I rely on punishments or rewards to control my kids.

Having said that - schools constantly reward kids as a motivation for good work or participation - stickers and stars when kids are little, Honor Roll and Awards Ceremonies when they are older. It's unavoidable. If they want to throw an extra dollar amount into the mix it isn't going to make things that much better or worse.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I dont agree with this at all. Why should we reward them for getting good grades..it should be expected of them, and if you are going to reward them , it should be from the home..NOT the school.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

First, I believe a parent has the right to have a say if their child is receiving monetary rewards.

Second, I believe it's almost like setting the kids up for disappointment and failure - so in high school they know they get $ if they do well. Well, that won't happen in college - what motivation will they have then? And what about in real life? Some companies give bonuses, but those are either built into an employment package or are completely optional and not guaranteed.

What ever happened to the days of kids doing well in school because they wanted to and because they had to? Our whole society is becoming more and more material driven and if we start teaching our kids this, it's only going to keep getting worse.

JMO

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I thought it was a good idea. Until I started using it with my son (who's 7)

He got pretty F*in greedy, so I'm not too sure...

I'm still torn though.

edit:
I should take time to actually COMPREHEND the question. I don't know, I think some control should be with the parent. But if it is producing positive outcomes, I wouldnt be opposed to it.

Message edited 2/15/2008 12:19:33 PM.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

I don't have a problem with kids beign rewarded--it happens in life too. Not all the time, but people do get bonuses, awards, etc.

However, I think giving that much cash to a teen can be risky.

Also, they aren't really being awarded for accomplishing anything. Like-- an award given to the 5 people with the highest scores or something. It's jsut for taking the class.

I'd be interested to hear the kids' take on it.

I took several AP classes in HS, but there was NO way I was taking AP calculus, no matter how much anyone paid me, so I can't see this working as an incentive.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Posted by MsMBV

Secondly, why are AP students getting this reward? Are they not already good students if they qualify for AP classes? Why not reward students who really need the motivation?

Message edited 2/15/2008 12:33:34 PM.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

When I brought home my straight A report card in 6th grade, I told me dad that other kids got $10 for each A they got. He told me that the grade is a reward in itself & he wasn't giving me a dime.

At the time, I thought he was cheap & now I see the value in what he said. Getting straight As was easy for me. For my sister, she struggled & was able to get Cs & sometimes Bs. When she got that B, it was because she worked hard for it.

I don't think anyone but the parents should be making the decision on rewarding a child with money.

I definitely won't do it based on grades. I would reward them for hard work but not monetarily - things like exempt from chores for a week or something along those lines.

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

as a teacher, i think it's ridiculous. i see more and more kids getting rewards for everything! "YAY! You washed your hands! Here's a prize... " "YAY! You did your homework, here's a prize!" i think it's gone completely over board. kids expect to be rewarded for doing what should be EXPECTED of them as a child. their job is to go to school, do the best they can, not to be paid. Children need to learn responsibility and to do what is required of them and what is right because it's the RIGHT thing to do. What's next, a prize for going to the bathroom?

Kids need to be taught that to succeed YOU have to work hard. Yes, I think teachers and parents can help with motivation, but there are other ways to do it instead of money, video games and other "prizes."

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Re: kids getting rewarded with money from school for making the grade

Is this the same thing that Bloomberg started giving money to parents for taking their kids' to the dr's too for their shots and yearly exams??? And there were a whole bunch of other $hit they give $$$$ to people for. I think it's ridiculous. People should not be rewarded for doing whatever one else has to do, is supposed to do or should do. Kids are rewarded in school by being allowed to participate in extracurricular activities and sports and most of all for getting a good education which hopefully makes them an asset to society.