Money for Good Grades

Blogs I read:

http://rachelsedreflections.blogspot.com/
http://johnlundy.blogspot.com/
http://angeladodge.blogspot.com/


After reading the Chicago Tribune article on rewarding students monetarily for good grades, and reading the blogs of a few of my fellow classmates, I am very surprised about the ideas to which I was exposed. Overall, my classmates feel that it is highly likely that giving students money for good grades will not succeed in motivating them to reach their full potential and will not motivate them to live a good life. My classmates feel that giving money for good grades only emphasizes to students that money is the most important thing in life: even more important than learning and knowledge. Rachel mentioned that the money might even be used by students for drugs or guns. Angela mentioned that if this program is looked upon positively and continues, then the money for the students will most likely come out of the pockets of tax payers. John stated that he is still doubtful about the program and will not be convinced of anything until he sees some conclusive evidence of its success. The three blogs that I read clearly expressed doubt and even disagreement with the decision to employ such a program in schools.

In general, I disagree with my classmates about this program. I feel that students who struggle in schools could use extra motivation in order to achieve better grades. Students in poor economic situations usually find school pointless to their everyday life and drop out or do not take it seriously. However, the offered money gives a great incentive to students to help their family while learning at the same time. Many wealthy parents reward their children with money for good grades. So why should a student that comes from a low income household not have the same incentive?

Also, I do not believe that giving students money for good grades in junior high or high school will change the way they think about money. By the time a student is in junior high or high school he or she is very likely to already realize that the United States of America is money focused. Therefore, providing students money for good grades will prepare them for the world that they are about to enter. With our capitalist economy, I feel that money will always be a very important aspect of life, so trying to change the focus of all students to value knowledge and learning over money is simply not practical.

Furthermore, I feel that if a student used his or her money for guns or drugs then he or she would not be able to maintain the grades necessary to receive the money in the first place. For example, if a student has to worry about using a gun to settle an argument or is concerned with using drugs after school, then I firmly believe that the student would not be able to focus in school and attain good grades. Overall, I feel that giving students money for good grades will keep them away from guns and drugs because they will see such items as ways to slip up in school and not get paid.

In the future, I plan on becoming a teacher, and I care very deeply about education and the motivation of students. Since I believe that money is a successful motivator, I would be willing to pay extra taxes to reward students for achieving good grades if it meant having future generations that are better educated. I was brought up in a family in a good economic situation so I had time to concentrate on school and was motivated by college to try my hardest. I am saddened when I think about students who are economically disadvantaged, do not see college as a viable option, and cannot concentrate on their education. If doing something like paying a child for good grades could motivate a student to go to college and do well in high school (which I believe it can), I will support it.

In my future classroom, I will do whatever it takes to find what I can do to motivate students. I am convinced that motivation is one of the most important components of obtaining a solid education. I want to teach in a class where every student is excited to be there and ready to do what it takes to learn the information that I present. Therefore, if my students are motivated by candy, I will bring in candy to motivate them. If my students are motivated by extra credit, I will provide extra credit opportunities. If my students are motivated by free time, then I will provide ways for students to get free time. In short, I will do whatever it takes to motivate students in order to instill in them the best education possible.