Paying kids to raise their grades
(posted by Paige)
In public schools throughout New York City an experiment is taking place using
incentive programs to encourage students and teachers to aim for higher scores on standardized tests, reports Jennifer Medina in today’s New York Times. The programs vary in what types of awards are offered, from pizza parties and McDonald gift certificates to teacher bonuses and student monetary awards. The idea was developed by Roland G. Fryer, a Harvard economist, and while it is still in its infancy, there is some indication that these programs are effecting positive changes in the classroom:
Teachers at the school said that this year, they had noticed a better attitude among the students, which they attributed to the incentive program. One recent day, fourth graders talked eagerly about the computer games they have been playing to get ready for this week’s state math exam. During the school’s recent winter break, dozens of students showed up for extra tutoring to prepare.
Still, the idea of handing out money to kids simply for improving their test scores doesn’t sit well with some:
Critics of these efforts say that children should be inspired to learn for knowledge’s sake, not to earn money, and question whether prizes will ultimately lift achievement.
Intuitively, I agree. School should be interesting and engaging enough that students are compelled to apply themselves to their studies. But if it’s not, or if students’ lives outside of school make multiplication tables and diagramming sentences seem irrelevant and simply not worth the effort, then maybe critics ought to give the experiment of incentives a try. As one principal puts it:
“We’re in competition with the streets[...]They can go out there and make $50 illegally any day of the week. We have to do something to compete with that.”
Moreover, a glance at the stats on the correlation between educational achievement and economic status makes it clear that motivating kids to study hard and raise their grades can go a long way towards improving their lot in life. In an article summarizing new research from the Economic Mobility Project, Erik Eckholm
reminds us that with increased educational achievement comes the higher probability of climbing out of poverty.
Someone born into a family in the lowest fifth of earners who graduates from college has a 19 percent chance of joining the highest fifth of earners in adulthood and a 62 percent chance of joining the middle class or better. In recent years, 11 percent of children from the poorest families have earned college degrees, compared with 53 percent of children from the top fifth.
Whatever can be done to narrow the gap is worth an honest effort.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:22 am
“Intuitively, I agree. School should be interesting and engaging enough that students are compelled to apply themselves to their studies. But if it’s not, or if students’ lives outside of school make multiplication tables and diagramming sentences seem irrelevant and simply not worth the effort, then maybe critics ought to give the experiment of incentives a try.”
THANK you. I recognize the reluctance people might have to start bribing students, but at least we’re not making the perfect the enemy of the good.
And the principal quoted about “competing with the streets” is dead-on.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Thanks for the comment. I’m all about the ‘inherent joy of learning’ approach to education, but really it’s not too far off for kids to associate working hard in school with financial award. If these inner-city kids make it as far as college, their odds of getting out of poverty are so much higher. Plus, chances are, school will become more inherently interesting once they are really applying themselves and experiencing improvement.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
So basically the smart kids get “treated” with McDonalds, Pizza and money to buy video games. I guess we will know who the smart kids are–they will also be the fat ones.
There is no doubt that education can make a huge difference in one’s life chance, but I have to admit this creeps me out a bit.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I hear you. I’m not an authority on this subject, but it may be that some schools reward for improved performance, rather than just the grade. If not, maybe they should.
This would serve to encourage more students and to decrease the stigma of not receiving any reward
(and therefore being labeled stupid or lazy).