Paying kids to go to school?

[ecstatic]

On C-Span this morning, the moderator mentioned that Arne Duncan supports paying kids for attendance and performance in school.

I think that is a horrible idea because of basic psychology.

Rewards can also be organized as extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic rewards are external to the person; for example, praise or money. Intrinsic rewards are internal to the person; for example, satisfaction or a feeling of accomplishment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation

I understand that some educators are desperate to get kids to attend school more regularly, but there has to be another way!

[defendandprotect]

1. When true education is available, you don't have to bribe anyone --

Our problems are with the destruction of education --

An educated public doesn't work well for elites -- the few among us who want

control and power over others --

[aikoaiko]

2. The last I looked at that literature, it seemed to me that external rewards and accomplishment

were not mutually exclusive.

I'm open to new ideas on school performance.

[meow2u3]

3. If kids have to be paid for good grades, they should be fined if they fail

I don't think paying kids to be educated is such a good idea, especially if there is no punishment for failure. If we pay kids for good grades and fine them for bad, it has a potential to end up discriminating against disabled students, especially those with ADHD and learning disabilities.