Should students be bribed to attend classes?

I really don’t think kids should be paid to do their homework/go to class. That’s their ONLY job at that age aside from fairly simple household chores. I don’t like the idea of bribing them to do their required duty. On the other hand, with USA so behind in the “international race for student excellence,” i can see people feeling that we should do anything that works/helps. But, IMO, this is not teaching kids good values. They should want to study for the sake of studying and learning new things, not because they are being paid to do it. What happens when they go to college and aren’t being paid anymore?

no kids need to make their own choices. If they fail at school that’s there choice.

My cousins were told by their father (my uncle) the following:

“For each ‘A’ on your report card, $100”

“For each ‘B,’ $50”

I must admit, my cousins got very good grades, and maybe they might not have studied as hard, and did as well, without that kind of incentive.

August 31, 2008, 3:22 PM EDT

When I was in high school, I used to skip a lot of classes. My Dad ended up making a deal with me that each full week I attended, I’d get some money.

I’m not saying it’s good, but it worked for me at the time. I felt school was pointless (as most teenagers do) and money gave me an incentive. Shallow, hey?

I wish there was a way to make learning a reward in itself. I understand the desire to want one’s children to succeed, but rewards skew the purpose of school.

People say that kids should want to learn, but the hard fact is that many kids don’t wish to be pinned down to a school system that they are required to sit classes for. The law says that students must attend school. The law doesn’t require adults to have jobs (economics takes care of that). It is everyone’s problem to have an undereducated population.

While it is unfortunate to resort to drastic measures, such as paying kids, I think that it is quite intelligent for this program’s developers to have thought of this. And in a twisted way, it sort of makes sense: in the workplace, there exists a parallel between performance and compensation.

I am saddened to see that this is what is being done to get kids to work hard in schools. (I hope that DC can pay for this); but if it works, isn’t it a good thing to have an educated population. No matter the price?

Maybe some kids NEED the $$$ incentives.

I never did. Learning was always FUN for me.

August 31, 2008, 3:33 PM EDT

They’re already bribed. With grades.

I get paid £30 weekly for just attending school, but that’s all relational to my family income. It’s not the reason why I go to school or do well, but it’s certainly very nice :)

no they shouldn’t be bribed.

yup. they should

I came home with a D- on my report card (Math) once, and my old man whipped me a corn stalk.

My grades improved, but not because of that.

Later on, I scrubbed the toilet for over an hour.

WITH his toothbrush.

August 31, 2008, 3:58 PM EDT

Both of you should be ashamed of yourself.

To whom are you speaking?

August 31, 2008, 4:03 PM EDT

She’s speaking to both of us. Necro and me

“She likes you two, BEST!”
—Tommy Smothers

August 31, 2008, 4:22 PM EDT

she does…..that be the problem.

Her being 16, is “the problem.”

I have CORNS and SCARS that are older than her… LOL

August 31, 2008, 4:28 PM EDT

I wish I was bribed to attend class. Instead I get threatened.

No, that’s ridiculous. Getting good grades/keeping up with school work is the sole responsibility of of each student. They shouldn’t need any motivation to keep up with their school work, other than the obvious…if they do, they really shouldn’t be in college. If they screw up, it’s their fault and they have to fix it; it’s not the college’s job to prevent this from happening by bribing them.

According to the article cited, those in DC, disagree with you.

August 31, 2008, 5:02 PM EDT

Oh, of course they disagree…DC has a very distorted view on values…
This is sad, considering the fact that I live about an hour away from DC and dream of going to Harvard…

me being 16 has nothing to do with it.

You won’t say that, when you are 35, or when you have a 16-year-old daughter of your own, respectfully.

August 31, 2008, 5:26 PM EDT

Age is irrelevant on this site, as long as you’re old [and mature] enough to join to collective. It should not be used against someone. For the record, I’m fourteen.

I agree with you. Age doesn’t matter at all, on this entire website.

My question would be, if it is really “irrelevant” at all, then why does she mention it on her profile page? Why did you mention yours?

August 31, 2008, 5:40 PM EDT

Because I want people to know that young does not neccessarily mean incompetent and immature.

Understood.

I’ve never implied that young people were immature or incompetent.

I’ve known kids of 13 – 17, who were more mature and competent, than many of my associates in their 40s and 50s.

If I gave you the impression that I was denigrating or insulting teenagers, please accept my abject apologies for that. No offense was intended, and none should be inferred, from any of my remarks.

I was once a teenager myself. At least I think I was…

August 31, 2008, 5:52 PM EDT

I did originally get that impression, but I now see where you were coming from. I appreciate that you understand, and I understand your point as well. No offense taken. =)