Should Kids Be Bribed to Do Well in School?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by DanaC

They grow up in a world where people are financially compensated for their time and efforts, but their own efforts are expected to be given freely.

There is a matter of that $100,000, or whatever it is these days, it costs to raise the average kid. Doing well in school is their job.

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

It's actually a nicely self-selecting group: the parents who don't want their kids to participate in such a bribery program are the parents who are already going to be doing a better job of raising their kids. The parents who think it's a great idea for their kid are the ones who aren't going to be doing a great job anyway, so for those kids it might very well be the most effective option.

There could also be a third group, parents that are doing a good job but struggling financially, or money hungry, that welcome any input.

[TheMercenary]

I don't see a problem with it.

We wanted our oldest to start to read more and so we offered her a nickle for each book she read. She started to really read a ton. So we had to go to a nickle for each three books, then it went to a quarter for 5 books. Eventually she just wanted to read. The money stopped but she never stopped reading. By the time we was tested in HS she was reading at the grade level of a kid in there second year of college. So it worked for that kid. It did not however work for the other two kids. They never wanted to do it, and still do not like to read to this day. The second one who is in college now is figuring out the hard way that he will not pass if he does not read more, a bit late but he is figuring it out. Different things motivates different kids differently, even in the same family.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Bah, they all need a good caning, the snot nosed whippersnappers.

[Shawnee123]

Addendum, just thoughts:

As kids, learning things was coming at full force. There was always something happening that was new.

As adults, we seek learning. We've seen a lot, we've been through a lot. Yet we still crave new knowledge. We take classes or read something or google something or try a new hobby or engage in conversation at a place such as the Cellar.

[classicman]

Great points Shaw, but I'm not convinced that its even many - certainly isn't most. Absolutely some though.

[monster]

It may work, in terms of getting better grades in tests, making the parents and the schools look good in the eyes of their peers, betters and funding authorities, but is it the sort of learning they need?

If they don't want to do the task, there's something wrong with the task, not the kid.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by monster

If they don't want to do the task, there's something wrong with the task

... or the way the task is presented.

[TheMercenary]

Agreed.

[monster]

I would consider presentation the part that was wrong in that case.

[Tulip]

Anyone belong in a family where there are no encouragements or rewards for doing well but only criticisms when you're not? Or simply ignored. Yeah, sad.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes.

[monster]

yes, I used to. now I belong to a family that does both....

[Aliantha]

Bribery works really well with Mav, but not Aden. If he doesn't want to do it, he just wont. Mav will do almost anything for money.

[monster]

<my kid> will do almost anything for money.

*emphasis and depersonalization mine*

NOT PERSONAL.... but is this a trait we want to encourage? Think dealing a little dope in school to make a bit extra..... it's almost legal, right...not like pushing herion...certainly wouldn't do that.... or maybe getting in trouble for a cash bet.... "twenty says you won't squeeze that cheerleader's tits and run away".... well it's not rape and she fancies me anyway and I can take her out with that money....

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by monster

*emphasis and depersonalization mine*

NOT PERSONAL.... but is this a trait we want to encourage? Think dealing a little dope in school to make a bit extra..... it's almost legal, right...not like pushing herion...certainly wouldn't do that.... or maybe getting in trouble for a cash bet.... "twenty says you won't squeeze that cheerleader's tits and run away".... well it's not rape and she fancies me anyway and I can take her out with that money....

When I wrote that the context I meant was that he'd litterally do the shittiest jobs to earn a dollar. jobs like cleaning out the cats run etc and just the crappy jobs that no one wants to do.

I understand what you're saying with your post, but the flip side of that is that kids learn that if you want something you have to earn it, which is the lesson Mav has learned recently. He wanted an xbox 360 of his own to use, so I told him he could earn it by working, which he did. It took him almost half a year, but as far as I can tell, he thinks it was worth it.

I think there's a difference between kids forming their own - often misguided - ideas of how to get somewhere in life, and being a responsible parent who teaches them that if you want to get to the top you'll have to get your hands dirty first.