What if children were paid more for high scores on tests by their parents?

Answer 1

The research suggests that purely symbolic rewards (like, say, the points on Yahoo! answers), acknowledgement, or recognition are more effective than tangible rewards for most students (the research also suggests that students with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder are exceptions).

I've had students tell me that they were going to earn a computer by good grades, but I did not notice any difference in the quality of their work. Students who receive monetary rewards at home are usually being "bought off" by busy parents who feel guilty that they don't give their children enough attention. The kids usually understand that intuitively, but aren't impressed.

The motivators I have noticed to be particularly effective in the classroom are:

-cooperating with a team of your peers (of different abilities and demographic profiles) and competing against similar teams

-the chance to create something of which they can be proud, something which has more of their own creativity than their automatic responses to the teacher's nickel-and-dime requirements in it.

-a classroom environment where students aren't afraid to be wrong now and again, where they can evaluate each other's work and learn from each other's feedback.

The research also suggests that these conditions encourage students to be self-directed learners. Self-directed learners work not to please adults, but to please themselves, and that's the best motivation of all.

Answer 2

My parents paid me for my report card scores, not for individual test scores. An A was worth $10. A B was worth $5. A C was worth $0, and I think I had to pay them if I got a D or an F. There was also a perk that if I got straight A's all year long, they gave me an additional $100.

Their reasoning was that I should be rewarded for my good grades. Also, I didn't have an allowance. So if I wanted some spending money I would have to study and do my homework. That was enough incentive for me! (I only had one B in high school.)

I have no complaints about this system, and I will probably do it for my own kids.

Answer 3

What if children got better grades for the betterment of themselves, rather than getting paid?

Answer 4

So do you think we should only strive for excellence if we're going to get paid to do so?

Education is its own reward... the competition for jobs is fierce and anyone who expects to support themselves had better be able to cut it.

Answer 5

they probably would get get better grades, because unless they are in high school the only reason of why they have to getb good graded is so they don't get in trouble, but in high school it counts toward their future, but even then they should get rewared for anything above a C because a B or A is above average, so they should get rewared for that.

Answer 6

Then all of the nerds and geniuses would be put in orphanages so the parents don't get bankrupt.

Answer 7

That's bribery...you're not teaching your kids to excel intellectually.. but teaching them how to get easy money... wait and easy if you can't give your kids money anymore, do you think they still would care to excel?..NO