Standardized tests don't work or show anything, anyway, so no matter the message, these kids aren't necessarily learning anything.

What kids need to learn is not just the material, but how to study properly to retain as much of the information as they can. It's not learned if you forget it 2 days later. They also need teachers who make the work interesting. If the kids aren't listening, then you're not teaching, you're just talking. The teachers need the resources to teach children properly and well, and the government (both local, state and federal) needs to make sure this is provided EVENLY across the board. Period.

They're throwing money at the wrong problem.

I dont agree with this.

put money to educational programs to HELP kids instead

you know I wonder sometimes....I see my neices & nephews coming home with a LUGGAGE full of books and sh*t.....what's going on? They're in ELEMENTARY school. I dont remember carrying THAT many books till I got to college.

I don't believe in cash rewards. I do believe in standardized testing throughout a state. I think it ensures the consistency of education and content of what is being taught. Coming from a state that has it, and moving to a state that doesn't, I'm shocked at what people my age haven't learned in High school

If more parents would bother to be involved in their kids' educations and teach them the best reasons for wanting to learn and do well in school, and the educational system wasn't so dysfunctional in so many places, schools wouldn't have to pay the kids off.

amen JudeC!

I don't think it's an ethical issue, but it does seem a bit ridiculous. My parents used to give me money for certain grades too. I'm not sure how much incentive that really gave me during the semester; I just enjoyed it once the semester was over. I don't think this change in motivation altered who I am, I don't think it increased or decreased my desire to learn in itself. And saying "learning should be the reward, not money" is silly too if it's not working. Lots of things should be, but aren't. And if something's not working, even if it "should be," we need to think of a different solution. Ultimately, though, if my parents wanted to reward me, I took it. But the school doing it? That's just silly.

"The teachers need the resources to teach children properly and well, and the government (both local, state and federal) needs to make sure this is provided EVENLY across the board."

I see the point, but the only way you can possibly make sure that everything is evenly across the board is if you have a nation-wide system that distributes money on a per-student basis. This would completely remove any sort of local control. You can't have things both evenly everywhere and handled by the local govts.

If this really happens, then kids will grow up thinking that money will do everything and that is no way to live.

I don't see the ethical dilemma, but as someone who was paid very well for her grades I can say it didn't do a bit of good. I did well when I wanted to, and I didn't when I didn't feel like it. The money at the end of each semester was just a bonus. They need to stress the importance of an education, not just the grades. Grades don't mean banana split when it comes to the real world, but if they want to LEARN, the possibilities are limitless.

I think it's a bad idea, but is it really that different from giving scholarships to those who do well academically? If they're going to give it away the money should be given in the form of an education grant.

Ask any professional educator (like me) and yes, it really is that different from giving scholarships! Academic research proves the more external rewards you give to young children, the less they are internally motivated to learn anything just for the sheer joy of learning. The younger you start extrinsic rewards, the worse it gets (those college students who get scholarships already have a love of learning). This idea makes me shudder--it is so wrong in so many ways!

My parents used to pay me for my grades. It worked for me - I heart being a straight a student (and still do). Now as to that translating into actually DOING something better with my life later on down the road, I'm not sure it had any effect. More encouragement to go to college before I got married and had kids might've been better. The monetary motivation did help me to strive for good grades and be genuinely happy when I received them though!

I think it's ridiculous to reward kids with money for something they're suppose to do.

Le Luxe- money is the reward for good work done when kids grow up. Adults are paid on a merit system, so I don't see what this teaches kids that isn't true in the real world. If my boss stamps a "Good job!!!" on my paycheck instead of a dollar amount, there will be trouble. I remember when I was little, Book-it was very popular, and though I would have read anyway, it felt nice (though unhealthy!!) to get a tangible reward.

I know that intrinsic motivation is all the rage in educator training right now, but maybe it just doesn't make sense. While I would only work at a job that I felt good about, and I am proud of my work, extrinsic motivation is a realistic part of life.

I never got paid for grades when I was in school, even though I got straight A's, and I think that taxpayer's money should not go towards paying kids to do well in school, however I don't think the idea is all that crazy. What will you teach kids? That doing your work well pays in addition to teaching you and being a good experience.

How is this unethical?

I don't see any problems with it as long as ALL the children are given a fair chance to get this reward. Regardless of whether its cold hard cash or its candy or tickets to a movie, its a reward for a job well done. That in itself is a lesson the kids are learning. Keeping promises. THat's a whole other matter. Telling kids they are going to get a reward for a job well done and then not fulfilling that promise can only spell trouble.

i don't really see any problems with doing this - but then again it may not be the best thing. i wish that there was a way for kids to stay motivated and learn but sometimes especially with the way the world is - giving $$ isn't a bad thing...

I think this is a ridiculous idea. I never got money for my good grades in school, yet I continued to do very well- because I knew why I had to do well for my future. Maybe schools should spent their money teaching children about how these grades will help them to excel in life.

As a teacher in a title I school.... all this does is add to their already-too-high sense of entitlement - causing bigger problems in the future. A lot of these kids won't continue in school anyway- and what happens when the next school doesn't pay -and kids go 'well what do I get if I do it?" "knowledge" ... doesn't matter to them.

Making learning interesting and having learning reward them, and teaching them not to give up, hard work, etc... THAT helps.

Sure; turn them all into capitalist bastards early on. I jest. It just seems like such a waste of money to me.

Kids at our district don't take standardized tests seriously because they know it "doesn't count." They already are entitled...the whole "if I'm not getting anything from the effort, I'm not going to do it" attitude is prevalent.

It would be nice if kids had a love of learning and would put pride into everything they tried, but in reality, this isn't happening. Which is worse...giving into this entitlement belief and paying them for a job well done or holding the line and then trying to defend low test scores to the community in shock?

I don't like the idea. But I dislike more how little education matters to this country and its kids.

kind of silly, isnt that basically what scholarships are? you get good grades, and you get money. although its money for school, but still. i dont think its neccessary for elementary level kids though, theyre so young, they shouldnt be bribed to do well, they should be told the benefits of doing well and motivated by things other than money.

The state I live in gives rewards for standardized tests in high school. If you pass 3 out of the 4 sections you receive $2500. However, in order to get the full money you need to go to a in-state university for 4 years (basically you get a check for $750 a year). So not only does it encourage students to do well on the test, but also to go to college. I don't see any problem with this system at all, it gives the students incentive to do well, but it also reflects better on the school. Before this system was introduced people used to just go through the tests and not try, which caused certain schools to not get the funding they deserved from the state. It is a pretty fair system, and there certainly are arguments to why it fails, but overall it is agreed that it is a positive part of the education system.

If you go out of state you get $1250 total

Well, getting good grades is so one can make more money in the future, anyway. There are significant differences between the income of high school graduates and college graduates. So, anything to get kids hitting the books and studying is good, and it's not like kids don't already know that a better future entails more money.

Plus, kids receive monetary incentives all the time...That's what chores and allowances are. It's nothing new or unethical.

this just reinforces a basic value in western (capitalist) civilization. Everything we do is for money, and kids are learning that sooner each generation that passes. Learning is a rewarding experience in itself, which leads to greater oppurtunities later in life. Now it seems that even education has a price... assigned value. So sad.

I disagree with this; Kids should not be paid to get good grades. This just teaches children that money is everything. Kids should be taught that learning is something free and that it's not a job.

Good points MandyJoBo and jeniferanne.

I believe that one of the reasons that kids go to school
is to get a degree in order to have a descent career in the future.

Otherwise education could be acquired in many wonderful ways (university of life, self study, etc).

So why not giving one glimpse of the future to the kids of what is going to come?

I think it's ridiculous to pay kids to make good grades, but I don't think it's a matter of ethics. Shouldn't the school systems pay for better teachers and better materials than giving the kids money for passing arbitrary standardize tests--granted the entire education system is messed up with standardize testing. I made A's all through my education before college and money certainly wasn't an incentive--my parents' expectations where what motivated me, even if I had a good report card, I never got paid for it. I think the schools paying for good grades sends a wrong message.

this isn't a good thing. shouldn't the motivation be that doing well in school leads to a good college and a well-paying job???

my daughter is in 6th grade and has worked hard to maintain an A average in all subjects since the 1st grade. she already knows that doing well now leads to her first choice college and eventually the job that will allow her to afford jimmy choo shoes all on her own.

where is this money going to come from? taxes??? the schools don't receive enough money as it is. we need to get rid of this sense of entitlement.

work for the grades because it will help you later in life and not for the quick buck now. besides it is completely unfair to those who do the work (in school) without that financial incentive. and will the top grade earners also receive the money??? to do otherwise would be utterly unfair.

This is just part of how backwards the whole system is. REAL learning is fun. Fun doesn't require rewards. Abolish the school districts. Bing on the unschooling!