OT: Paying Kids For Grades in HS

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredycat]what about attention, workign with them, PLUS money.

why is it morally objectionable to pay for grades?

I do not to check for additional oddball contingencies. I have a clause about grade appeals, also one for grade errors later retracted by school. Maybe a clause about changed grading systems? i could get screwed if they change the system so A=Awful, B=Better, C= High Cuality, and D=Dang!You good![/quote]

Prbably need a clause about cheating or gaming the system too…. If you need examples, I’ll be happy to share with you some of the things kids did/do to avoid subjects they hated but nevertheless wanted an A.

[scaredyclassic]

if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…

[scaredyclassic]

if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…

[scaredyclassic]

if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…

[scaredyclassic]

if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…

[scaredyclassic]

if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredycat]if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…[/quote]

Personally, I don’ think it’s morally objectionable about “enticing” a kid a bit here and there, but again, in your son’s case, what does he plan to do with the money? That’s why I’m thinking it might not work…Maybe a better option would be to figure out what he likes, and subsidize his purchase(s) based on how he does along with a (small) allowance to do regular choirs. (Little lessons in money management at an early age isn’t a bad thing anyway..In fact, it’s probably a good thing in america.)

Imho, again, I think the important thing here is more about a lesson of developing work habits versus the raw “A”. Not knowing the details of your son, I can’t tell if he has work habits but having a hard time OR if he just doesn’t have good work habits.

True, almost everyone games the system to varying degrees, but I’d be concerned if you son tries to game everything and shows no interest in one particular thing. And you probably don’t want to encourage that sort of behavior because it sets a presidence for his future…Admittedly, I sort of circumvented a good portion of early English literature because I hated reading those books and much rather spend my time on science/math/computers…I survived on cliff notes and movie versions of the the books even though teachers warned explicitly don’t count on those aids alone because my tests are designed to weed out people that only read those cliff notes/watch the movie (which was bullshit, because I did better than those people that actually read the books and didn’t use those aides.) In hindsight, I missed out on a lot of great work written in the past and is probably why I am sort of off balanced when it comes to worldly knowledge….

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredycat]if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…[/quote]

Personally, I don’ think it’s morally objectionable about “enticing” a kid a bit here and there, but again, in your son’s case, what does he plan to do with the money? That’s why I’m thinking it might not work…Maybe a better option would be to figure out what he likes, and subsidize his purchase(s) based on how he does along with a (small) allowance to do regular choirs. (Little lessons in money management at an early age isn’t a bad thing anyway..In fact, it’s probably a good thing in america.)

Imho, again, I think the important thing here is more about a lesson of developing work habits versus the raw “A”. Not knowing the details of your son, I can’t tell if he has work habits but having a hard time OR if he just doesn’t have good work habits.

True, almost everyone games the system to varying degrees, but I’d be concerned if you son tries to game everything and shows no interest in one particular thing. And you probably don’t want to encourage that sort of behavior because it sets a presidence for his future…Admittedly, I sort of circumvented a good portion of early English literature because I hated reading those books and much rather spend my time on science/math/computers…I survived on cliff notes and movie versions of the the books even though teachers warned explicitly don’t count on those aids alone because my tests are designed to weed out people that only read those cliff notes/watch the movie (which was bullshit, because I did better than those people that actually read the books and didn’t use those aides.) In hindsight, I missed out on a lot of great work written in the past and is probably why I am sort of off balanced when it comes to worldly knowledge….

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredycat]if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…[/quote]

Personally, I don’ think it’s morally objectionable about “enticing” a kid a bit here and there, but again, in your son’s case, what does he plan to do with the money? That’s why I’m thinking it might not work…Maybe a better option would be to figure out what he likes, and subsidize his purchase(s) based on how he does along with a (small) allowance to do regular choirs. (Little lessons in money management at an early age isn’t a bad thing anyway..In fact, it’s probably a good thing in america.)

Imho, again, I think the important thing here is more about a lesson of developing work habits versus the raw “A”. Not knowing the details of your son, I can’t tell if he has work habits but having a hard time OR if he just doesn’t have good work habits.

True, almost everyone games the system to varying degrees, but I’d be concerned if you son tries to game everything and shows no interest in one particular thing. And you probably don’t want to encourage that sort of behavior because it sets a presidence for his future…Admittedly, I sort of circumvented a good portion of early English literature because I hated reading those books and much rather spend my time on science/math/computers…I survived on cliff notes and movie versions of the the books even though teachers warned explicitly don’t count on those aids alone because my tests are designed to weed out people that only read those cliff notes/watch the movie (which was bullshit, because I did better than those people that actually read the books and didn’t use those aides.) In hindsight, I missed out on a lot of great work written in the past and is probably why I am sort of off balanced when it comes to worldly knowledge….

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredycat]if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…[/quote]

Personally, I don’ think it’s morally objectionable about “enticing” a kid a bit here and there, but again, in your son’s case, what does he plan to do with the money? That’s why I’m thinking it might not work…Maybe a better option would be to figure out what he likes, and subsidize his purchase(s) based on how he does along with a (small) allowance to do regular choirs. (Little lessons in money management at an early age isn’t a bad thing anyway..In fact, it’s probably a good thing in america.)

Imho, again, I think the important thing here is more about a lesson of developing work habits versus the raw “A”. Not knowing the details of your son, I can’t tell if he has work habits but having a hard time OR if he just doesn’t have good work habits.

True, almost everyone games the system to varying degrees, but I’d be concerned if you son tries to game everything and shows no interest in one particular thing. And you probably don’t want to encourage that sort of behavior because it sets a presidence for his future…Admittedly, I sort of circumvented a good portion of early English literature because I hated reading those books and much rather spend my time on science/math/computers…I survived on cliff notes and movie versions of the the books even though teachers warned explicitly don’t count on those aids alone because my tests are designed to weed out people that only read those cliff notes/watch the movie (which was bullshit, because I did better than those people that actually read the books and didn’t use those aides.) In hindsight, I missed out on a lot of great work written in the past and is probably why I am sort of off balanced when it comes to worldly knowledge….

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredycat]if they’re caught cheating, they won’t get an A. If they cheat and don’t get caught they’re not likely to turn themselves in. I don’t have a problem with gaming the system, if it’s done within the rules, which is what i consider gaming the system. why shouldn’tone be rewarded for properly gaming the system?

Also–how is money different from a ‘reward” ata nite at sizzler, or even praise? Theya re just varying forms of motivators. Does the lucre somehow contaminate the purity of the mission? if so, is there any purity tot he type of learning that actually goes on — stacks ofmeaningless homework, etc…maybe i need to pay more…[/quote]

Personally, I don’ think it’s morally objectionable about “enticing” a kid a bit here and there, but again, in your son’s case, what does he plan to do with the money? That’s why I’m thinking it might not work…Maybe a better option would be to figure out what he likes, and subsidize his purchase(s) based on how he does along with a (small) allowance to do regular choirs. (Little lessons in money management at an early age isn’t a bad thing anyway..In fact, it’s probably a good thing in america.)

Imho, again, I think the important thing here is more about a lesson of developing work habits versus the raw “A”. Not knowing the details of your son, I can’t tell if he has work habits but having a hard time OR if he just doesn’t have good work habits.

True, almost everyone games the system to varying degrees, but I’d be concerned if you son tries to game everything and shows no interest in one particular thing. And you probably don’t want to encourage that sort of behavior because it sets a presidence for his future…Admittedly, I sort of circumvented a good portion of early English literature because I hated reading those books and much rather spend my time on science/math/computers…I survived on cliff notes and movie versions of the the books even though teachers warned explicitly don’t count on those aids alone because my tests are designed to weed out people that only read those cliff notes/watch the movie (which was bullshit, because I did better than those people that actually read the books and didn’t use those aides.) In hindsight, I missed out on a lot of great work written in the past and is probably why I am sort of off balanced when it comes to worldly knowledge….

[UCGal]

I’m a big believer that parents have to figure out what works for their family and their kids. If this works, great.

I’m also of the mind that just carrots or just sticks won’t do it for most kids – you need carrots ($ in this case) and sticks (removal of privileges).

I think the idea that it’s too long of a period is a valid one. Perhaps you can arrange with the guidance counselor to get monthly status updates.

I was the “bright but lazy” student – and that’s what my dad did – if the monthly report showed I was underperforming he cracked down – I could do NOTHING but homework and extra studying. One month of that and I was back on track.

At the time I thought my dad was the meanest dad on the planet – in hindsight, I know he was doing it because he cared and wanted me to achieve my potential.

But – if paying for grades works – great. What is your backup plan if it doesn’t work?

[UCGal]

I’m a big believer that parents have to figure out what works for their family and their kids. If this works, great.

I’m also of the mind that just carrots or just sticks won’t do it for most kids – you need carrots ($ in this case) and sticks (removal of privileges).

I think the idea that it’s too long of a period is a valid one. Perhaps you can arrange with the guidance counselor to get monthly status updates.

I was the “bright but lazy” student – and that’s what my dad did – if the monthly report showed I was underperforming he cracked down – I could do NOTHING but homework and extra studying. One month of that and I was back on track.

At the time I thought my dad was the meanest dad on the planet – in hindsight, I know he was doing it because he cared and wanted me to achieve my potential.

But – if paying for grades works – great. What is your backup plan if it doesn’t work?

[UCGal]

I’m a big believer that parents have to figure out what works for their family and their kids. If this works, great.

I’m also of the mind that just carrots or just sticks won’t do it for most kids – you need carrots ($ in this case) and sticks (removal of privileges).

I think the idea that it’s too long of a period is a valid one. Perhaps you can arrange with the guidance counselor to get monthly status updates.

I was the “bright but lazy” student – and that’s what my dad did – if the monthly report showed I was underperforming he cracked down – I could do NOTHING but homework and extra studying. One month of that and I was back on track.

At the time I thought my dad was the meanest dad on the planet – in hindsight, I know he was doing it because he cared and wanted me to achieve my potential.

But – if paying for grades works – great. What is your backup plan if it doesn’t work?

[UCGal]

I’m a big believer that parents have to figure out what works for their family and their kids. If this works, great.

I’m also of the mind that just carrots or just sticks won’t do it for most kids – you need carrots ($ in this case) and sticks (removal of privileges).

I think the idea that it’s too long of a period is a valid one. Perhaps you can arrange with the guidance counselor to get monthly status updates.

I was the “bright but lazy” student – and that’s what my dad did – if the monthly report showed I was underperforming he cracked down – I could do NOTHING but homework and extra studying. One month of that and I was back on track.

At the time I thought my dad was the meanest dad on the planet – in hindsight, I know he was doing it because he cared and wanted me to achieve my potential.

But – if paying for grades works – great. What is your backup plan if it doesn’t work?

[Author]

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