Should children be paid for their grades?

Answer 1

OK, but be very careful how you calibrate any performance driven system.
(it may send you broke)

My kid was doing really badly in high school and running with the wrong crowd, so bright-spark me decided to come up with a bonus system for rewards for good grades.

The theory was, he's going to be working for money (and bonuses for overachieving) for the rest of his life, so what better way to instill the desire and drive to get ahead, than if I start him early in life. (high school)

Starting at 75% minimum grade, per subject in any exam, he would be eligable for a graduated cash payment above this marker.
The bonus was scaled from $15. for a 75% result, all the way up to $100. if he achieved OVER 95%.

Sounds pretty safe when dealing with a kid hovering around 45% in his grades right?

Wrong! ...........<
He saw the whole thing as a huge challenge, or the newest game in town.
Overnight, he changed his backsliding ways of endless detentions at school, started doing lunch with the nerdy crowd and he spent every waking moment studying and revising. Twice a week he went to maths tutoring classes. (he asked to)
Within six months his grades shot up to the point where his exam results were extraordinary as most of his grades were in the final 5%

I stopped going to the club with the boys and my golf handicap was shot from lack of play, because my wallet was feeling the strain.

No more did my wife and I have to go on treasure hunts around the house and through the bins to find his report cards. They were all laid out chronologically across the table, ready for prompt payment.
Suddenly all his teachers loved him. In his final year at school, the formerly 'mean old headmaster' called him into his office and said: Mr. Dix, (jnr) if you would like to take up our invitation to run for school captain, you would have my vote.
So, no.
It's not a good idea. It kept me out of the pub for YEARS!

Oh, now the 22 yr old 'kid' earns $80,000 and loves his IT job and has had two promotions this year, is in his third year of uni paid for by the company he works for, and you don't even want to KNOW about his company performance bonuses.

Pst. I'm back doing golf finally, and he hugs his dad a lot for 'showing him the way'....so it works.

Danny.

.

Answer 2

No. I think that if you pay continuously for good grades, then it will instill in the child that they shouldn't do their best unless money or some sort of reward is involved. You lose the concept of doing a job well for the sake of doing it right, (personal reward or pride in ones self).
Later on in life on the job, if they are not padded on the back or receive constant encouragement from their boss, then their work ethic or employment quality will start to lag.
Don't get me wrong, an occasional monetary reward or a congratulations luncheon or even a shopping spree can let your child know that you care and most of all, you're spending quality time with them.
Just throwing money at your child, will eventually blow up in your face.

Answer 3

I heard about this on Glenn Beck awhile ago (starting programs in the school systems that would pay children to get good grades), and I wasn't sure what to think of it. Why should we HAVE to pay kids for good grades, I thought we already did through scholarships and things like that?!! There are other ways to motivate children to study besides $.

Answer 4

I plan to pay mine. I don't think anything is wrong with bribery, if it gets the desired results. Especially in boys. Just make sure you relate it to the real world. Let them know that the way you're rewarding them for their academic achievements, they'll be rewarded in life the same way. Good grades=Good Education=Good Job=Good Money!

Answer 5

Absolutely not the payment IS the good grades. Hell, I wasn't paid for the A's I brought home. When I screwed up in school I was PAID all right. Dad took the strap to my rump.

Answer 6

When you think about it, they eventually are. There is a positive correlation between the number of A's a student makes during middle schhol and high school and their lifetime earnings. Good grades translate into good careers and compensation.

Answer 7

My dad offered $5.00 for each A we brought home. I am the youngest-My two sisters & brother rarely made an A, but I got straight A's and lots of money!! I guess if you examine it in this case, it didn't work as an incentive...

Answer 8

No not "paid". They are expected to do their best and learn. An occasional reward for something special is a good thing but they shouldn't expect it!

Answer 9

No. Children should be taught that getting good grades will help them in life. It should be areward in itself. However, if they do something extra, such as a project that is not manditory, then perhaps that deserves a small pay.

Answer 10

Well I didn't, I just got a slice of pie and a pat on the back. Now these days, kids go shopping at hollister doing mega shopping sprees.