Yesterday, as I was driving home from a quick run to the store, the radio was blathering on about what to pay kids for grades. There was no discussion about whether or not you should pay kids for grades, just more what the amounts ought to be. I'll admit to being stunned. There are parents out there who pay their kids $100 for each A, $50 for each B, and nothing for a C. Now I will admit that I was pleased that at least with this ridiculous scheme the kid had to pay the parents $50 for each D and $100 for each F. (Though all the parents referred to them as an E. An E? Seriously? What...does F make little Janie feel bad about herself? Good! She should! She got an F! How is an E any better? It still means that you failed the class.)
Pushing aside the ridiculous amount of money that would result in for a kid each quarter (though I suppose if you don't have an allowance and this is the only way they get money from you there might be a case in there), I find the idea of being paid for grades disturbing - primarily because I don't see how that teaches your child to work in situations where there isn't money forthcoming - like, oh, college. And I would love to do a little poll of my current donuts and see if there's a correlation between those who were paid for their grades in high school and those who are currently failing my class. I'm guessing there is.
To put a monetary value on a grade then gives the child the chance to make a decision about how hard to work based on how much money they want. If they don't like a subject, they need only decide that they can do without $100 or even $50 and all they then have to do is work to pass. Or, if it's something they truly don't enjoy they may be perfectly fine paying you if it means they don't have to do the schoolwork. I can certainly think of a couple subjects that I'd've willingly paid to get out of.
And I don't think you can have the double standard of saying "You must always strive to do your best at school." coupled with "And I'll give you $100 for each A." Either your best is your best - be that an A, B, or C - or you're working for your desired pay scale, regardless of what your best effort might otherwise demand.
Add to that the fact that paying for grades encourages kids to believe that they should be paid for everything - that there's always "something in it for me" even thought there is a large part of life that has no immediate tangible reward, and raising your kids to expect something for something in every area of their life does them a disservice.
22 hours ago
well said!
ReplyDeleteDitto, although I am also threatening the loss of one digit for each "D" and the loss of one limb for each "F".
ReplyDeleteI don't pay for grades, but we did take our son out for ice cream at the end of the school year to congratulate him on a job well done. I do believe in showing my kids that I appreciate it when they do well--but there's never any sort of: you get xyz when you make an A. An A is its own reward. :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, you're right. There's totally a difference between CELEBRATING a job well done and bribing someone to do the stuff they're SUPPOSED to do (which is do their best, whatever level that may be).
ReplyDeleteI agree...not to mention this borders on child labor and giving kids an opportunity to make choices they're not prepared to make. Then there's the essential problem, as you said, of placing a tangible reward on an intangible (i.e. doing your best). And the E? I haven't heard of such a thing. I don't agree either with "everyone's a winner" in today's kids' sporting competitions. I mean, we don't need to start them competing at the age of 3, but once old enough to compete, there should be a real incentive to, again, do your best.
ReplyDeleteRobbo - I definitely think loss of digit and limb is appropriate motivation! :)
ReplyDeleteMichelle - I think celebrating at the end of the year is definitely a good thing, after all, they are still kids, and it's good to get a pat on the head (metaphorically) for a job well done. I did laugh at the "A is its own reward" comment - while I agree, I think your teacher is showing. ;)
Lynellen - Exactly. :)
Gwynne - I hadn't thought about the child labor aspect, but that's certainly something to consider. The "E" thing really bothers me...as if renaming it to something else magically makes it not mean the same thing.
Well, yeah. Renaming F* to Frak makes it not mean the same thing. That's how you can say Frak on TV and not the other!
ReplyDeleteJust like changing red ink for grading papers to blue ink means that the points off are no longer self-esteem damaging.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the ridiculousness of the high amounts but see things a bit different on the “getting money” for grades.
ReplyDeleteWe “Reward” Noel when she makes As’ and Bs’ and if she ever make a D or F she would return any money she was rewarded with.
The way I see it - is that school is “their job” for the time being. They should treat it as such and should be rewarded with their efforts assuming they are above and beyond that of average effort (such as a C). So, much like our adult world of working brings you a paycheck then going to school and learning brings them knowledge. But at the end of the year (or in this case allotted time for report cards to be given out), we might get bonuses based on our work if we did an excellent job. So a bonus to us is like a reward on their report card if they make As’ and Bs’ for them.
Just my $00.02 (not $100.00) worth…..
=)