Written by Crystal Schwalger
So quarterly grades just came out for my daughter who is in 9th grade, and for the second semester in a row, she made the high honor roll. This is a new thing for us with her. Not that her grades have been horribly bad, but she’s had some areas of trouble in the past, and needless to say, she didn’t make the high honor roll before. When I was telling a friend of mine about my daughter’s achievement, she asked me if I pay my daughter for her grades. My answer was “Um, no, should I?” This was an interesting question to me. Should I pay my daughter? I myself never got paid for grades, even when I did make the honor roll. It just never occurred to me as a parent that I should do this. Does this make me a bad mom?
So it got me thinking. Is paying for grades a normal thing? Did I somehow get cheated when I was a kid and so I’m cheating my kids too? I decided to look into the subject to see what the “social correctness” of today is. It turns out that there is no real consensus, and everyone has a different opinion. According to the National Education Association (NEA), one in four parents pays their children for good grades. What is even more interesting is that many schools, cities, and states, and even teachers have incentives or scholarships that also pay students for their grades. I’m not talking college-age young adults earning scholarships. These are elementary through high schools that pay incentives such as certificates for a local pizza place, rides in limos, and in some states, even real cash.
In a report that came out last week in the Public School Review, Dallas Texas students can earn up to $400 for taking and passing the Advanced Placement test. In Houston, parents and families can earn up to $1050 when their 5th grader masters the basic math standards. Even in Chicago they have an incentive program called the ‘paper project.” It was reported that 9th and 10th graders could earn up to $2000. Not surprisingly, parents and students in those areas are onboard for such incentives.
Many people say “Why not? Adults get paid for a job well done in the real world, why shouldn’t it be the same when kids do a job well done in school?”
This question does have merit of course, but one can argue that not all jobs are paying jobs. People often work at internships in order to learn a trade and build experience, not because they are getting paid. Also, although hard work in the workplace often leads to a bonus or a promotion etc., this is not always the case. The reality is that only a certain number of people get those special promotions or the extra bonus. Sometimes, the greatest reward comes from knowing that you did your best.
Is this not the same with kids and school? If you pay a child every time they earn an A, you could risk the mindset that money is all that matters. Is the loss of money really enough incentive to make a child try harder? If you stop paying after they are earning all those A’s, will they go back to their old ways of underachieving? Another thing parents must decide is that once your child has proven that they can earn good grades, will you continually pay them more and more? This can really add up, especially as they get older and have more expensive needs.
The Journal of Educational Psychology claims that, “Paying kids for grades can work, but only for a small portion of students and then only for a limited time.”As with most people who are self-motivated, this method is most effective with those students who are already trying for the A’s. Many researchers say that monetary rewards just don’t work in the long run. They believe that any type of monetary reward ultimately undermines motivation, and will discourage any real achievement in the long run. This research is interesting to hear since most kids respond to the right kind of motivation. Other incentives or rewards though, do seem to help motivate kids to do better, at least in the short term.
If you are wondering about things a little closer to home, the Washington County School District does not currently have a cash payment incentive for students. Interestingly enough, there has been discussion on such matters as a district, and also on a state level to try and find what will help to motivate kids to attend and pass classes. Larry Bergeson, superintendent of the Washington County School District, says “Right now, all incentives are offered through individual schools and their teachers.” According to him, some schools like Dixie High School at one time did offer a small cash incentive for their Algebra 1 course. Those students who had all their assignments turned in, had one or less absence, and passed the course received a $25 cash payment. He said it absolutely made a difference in those students who were struggling to attend and might not otherwise graduate. As far as he knows, the program is not currently running.
He went on to say that many schools in our district offer special incentives for good behavior on a teacher level such as turning in special assignments, and reaching certain grades. Rewards vary from earning stars, points, certificates, or even cookie and pizza parties. “The key” says Superintendent Bergeson “Is to be creative. You have to find something for kids that they like, so that they will do something that they normally wouldn’t want to do”.
So, what is a concerned, conscientious parent to do? To pay or not to pay doesn’t really seem to be the question here.
Teachers and parents alike have their work cut out for them to find what motivates their kids the best. The key is to not only motivate them to get good grades, but to give them the skills to actually do that. Different rewards work with different kids. You know your kids the best, and what motivates them. Giving praise and recognition, or a crisp $20 bill is up to you. Just be sure it instills the values that you wish to pass on to your kids. Will I start paying my own kids for grades? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean I’m not giving my kids what they need to be motivated. I’m not being a bad mom, just the best mom for my own kids. And that’s what it’s all about.
Crystal Schwalger has loved writing ever since she could remember. Her love of learning led her to Dixie State University where she graduated with a degree in English and Communications. She is passionate about writing and believes that you should never give up on your dreams. She is happiest when she is at home enjoying her backyard green spaces with her family. She currently lives in Washington Utah with her husband, her children, and her dog Kali.
