The Toronto District School Board was considering paying needy children for getting good grades, as a motivational tool.
Chris Spence, the board's director of education, started an online discussion after sending out a question on Twitter: "Should we pay kids in our more disadvantaged communities to do well in school? Perhaps, as part of a poverty reduction scheme?"
Lloyd McKell, head of the board's new anti-poverty task force, said initial feedback was positive, but CBC.ca reader response was largely skeptical and Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky says that if the board moves ahead with the idea the provincial government will try to block it.
In a survey taken by over 700 readers, 67 per cent said they didn't think it is a good idea. Some of the comments suggest there are better methods to get students interested in education.
"Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I still believe that education is a privilege and that we are fortunate to have a free public system to begin with. It definitely needs more attention and improvement but throwing money at kids for better grades cheapens the entire educational process and as it's supposed to be about a lot more than simple right-wrong answers anyway, this places emphasis on the wrong area," says one reader.
Another commenter agrees and proposes parents get involved with their children's grades through encouragement and support: "This is an interesting question that parents have often asked me during parent-teacher interviews. Obviously, it depends on the child, but the greatest motivator I have seen is parents taking a genuine, serious interest in their child's learning."
"The idea of rewarding only the 'needy kids' could do more harm than good," says Mystory. "It's another reminder that they are 'needy.' How about meaningful non-monetary rewards for all kids - items or privileges related to school - books, pens, art or music supplies, a private music lesson etc."
One commenter changed his mind after considering the matter. "At first I said NO- ** NO! But after thinking it over, well-to-do parents often reward their kids and I know that works so yes, let's try it," says Academentia.
What do you think? Should schools pay students for good grades?
First of all, education is very important in the society; that´s why all the Governments are very interested in it.
Unfortunately, we know that school failure is increasing, so people in charge of education have to solve this problem.
Even though the governments think that some measure will not completely appropriate or effective, they will apply all of them in order to improve students´ academic grades.
In my opinion, it is not a good idea to pay students for good grades. Governments should help needy students by scholarships or by other systems, but no through money in the way between education and children.
I consider there are a lot of opportunities to study in our society and in general in the civilized world in the most of the cases, so adults must find the way to relieve disadvantaged students of their economic problems.
All of us wish nobody stopped studying because of being short of money. This would be unforgivable, but it is not necessary to resort to this radical measure.
In conclusion, I suggest finding other methods to solve financial problems in education.
I look forward to having solutions from Governments around the world.
I agree with Isa. Doesn´t seem right to pay students for getting good grades. They should provide scholarships, but to me it seems wrong to be motivated by money. They should assist to bring good grades so they know that in the future may have a better economic situation if they study. I think in our society there are many opportunities to study and everyone should use it. And disadvantaged families should encourage their children to continue studying in public education and do not leave school to help financially at home.
In my opinion the Government of Canada should spend money in scolarships in order to help students with economic problems.
I also think that paying students with grades it´s not good and also unfair for the ones who has not money.
In my point of view everybody should be able to study appart from their economic level. Because it´s not fair if someone can´t study because of his economie though he want to.
I totally agree with Isabel and it's a shame that in this reality such things happen. We should all put a little on our part to events like the solution to this, because if not now, things will get worse and there will come a time when education becomes a mere business, and not a tool learning as it is now. It is necessary that governments work together and put something on your part to resolve this as soon as possible and to encourage support through scholarships.
I agree with Isa. I think that it’s a pity that a lot of children can’t afford all the materials and costs of the school, but paying for good grades it’s a bad solution to their economic problems. In our society, there are a lot of possibilities in order to studying cheap, even free, like scholarships, because of that, I think that it’s unfair to pay children for their good marks, although they need money. Moreover, this increases their differences and their discrimination. Therefore, I think that it’s a very bad idea.
I agree with Isa. In my opinion it isn't a good idea paying needy children for getting good califications. The goverment must look for other solutions to motivate needy children to get good grades. They must spend money in scholarships or in other prizes like school materials which will be more effective to promote needy children in their studies.
I agree with Isa. Paying the students to get better results is not the best solution. I think they should think in other ways to encourage the students like doing practical and funnier lessons. If the pay them, may be they are going to think that is easier not to study because then they will pay them more and more.
I’m agree with Isa too, in my opinion, I don’t think paying students for good grades is the best solution to increase and improve education because this will cause competition among students and a waste of money unfair and unnecessary. Every child should receive attention, encouragement and help from parents or teachers to continue their task. And that money could be used to improve school equipment, facilities or even the most disadvantaged families.
Well , Im not saying that this mesure is write on wrong but, I think that when we read this articule most of us are thinking about pay 5, 8 or even 10 years old children to get good marks, but i think this method has been though for older people, imagine a 15 or 16 years old boy who really wants to study but his economical situation is very bad,his parents has no choice to work and he has to take care of his family( its quite odd but it happens) so that boy have two choices: a)leave the studies and start working for to be able to eat and feed his family as much as pay the house rent and bills( water, electricity, etc), or b)keep going to school and dont have money to even have breakfast every morning... in this case its more that normal that that boy will choose the option "b" and leave his studies... so why not give him the chance to study hard getting a very good marks and as reward give him the money he needs to help his family?
I think schools are not a bussines but through the privatization of these, it seems. It is a shame that many people can not access to specific schools for the simple fact of not having money for the enrollment or school supplies, why parents should choose schools with the worst conditions in terms of resources and lack adaptations money?
Grades for pay
ReplyDeleteThe Toronto District School Board was considering paying needy children for getting good grades, as a motivational tool.
Chris Spence, the board's director of education, started an online discussion after sending out a question on Twitter: "Should we pay kids in our more disadvantaged communities to do well in school? Perhaps, as part of a poverty reduction scheme?"
Lloyd McKell, head of the board's new anti-poverty task force, said initial feedback was positive, but CBC.ca reader response was largely skeptical and Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky says that if the board moves ahead with the idea the provincial government will try to block it.
In a survey taken by over 700 readers, 67 per cent said they didn't think it is a good idea. Some of the comments suggest there are better methods to get students interested in education.
"Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I still believe that education is a privilege and that we are fortunate to have a free public system to begin with. It definitely needs more attention and improvement but throwing money at kids for better grades cheapens the entire educational process and as it's supposed to be about a lot more than simple right-wrong answers anyway, this places emphasis on the wrong area," says one reader.
Another commenter agrees and proposes parents get involved with their children's grades through encouragement and support: "This is an interesting question that parents have often asked me during parent-teacher interviews. Obviously, it depends on the child, but the greatest motivator I have seen is parents taking a genuine, serious interest in their child's learning."
"The idea of rewarding only the 'needy kids' could do more harm than good," says Mystory. "It's another reminder that they are 'needy.' How about meaningful non-monetary rewards for all kids - items or privileges related to school - books, pens, art or music supplies, a private music lesson etc."
One commenter changed his mind after considering the matter. "At first I said NO- ** NO! But after thinking it over, well-to-do parents often reward their kids and I know that works so yes, let's try it," says Academentia.
What do you think? Should schools pay students for good grades?
November 19. 2010. CBC News
First of all, education is very important in the society; that´s why all the Governments are very interested in it.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we know that school failure is increasing, so people in charge of education have to solve this problem.
Even though the governments think that some measure will not completely appropriate or effective, they will apply all of them in order to improve students´ academic grades.
In my opinion, it is not a good idea to pay students for good grades. Governments should help needy students by scholarships or by other systems, but no through money in the way between education and children.
I consider there are a lot of opportunities to study in our society and in general in the civilized world in the most of the cases, so adults must find the way to relieve disadvantaged students of their economic problems.
All of us wish nobody stopped studying because of being short of money. This would be unforgivable, but it is not necessary to resort to this radical measure.
In conclusion, I suggest finding other methods to solve financial problems in education.
I look forward to having solutions from Governments around the world.
Marta V:
ReplyDeleteI agree with Isa. Doesn´t seem right to pay students for getting good grades. They should provide scholarships, but to me it seems wrong to be motivated by money. They should assist to bring good grades so they know that in the future may have a better economic situation if they study.
I think in our society there are many opportunities to study and everyone should use it.
And disadvantaged families should encourage their children to continue studying in public education and do not leave school to help financially at home.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the Government of Canada should spend money in scolarships in order to help students with economic problems.
ReplyDeleteI also think that paying students with grades it´s not good and also unfair for the ones who has not money.
In my point of view everybody should be able to study appart from their economic level. Because it´s not fair if someone can´t study because of his economie though he want to.
I totally agree with Isabel and it's a shame that in this reality such things happen. We should all put a little on our part to events like the solution to this, because if not now, things will get worse and there will come a time when education becomes a mere business, and not a tool learning as it is now. It is necessary that governments work together and put something on your part to resolve this as soon as possible and to encourage support through scholarships.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Isa. I think that it’s a pity that a lot of children can’t afford all the materials and costs of the school, but paying for good grades it’s a bad solution to their economic problems. In our society, there are a lot of possibilities in order to studying cheap, even free, like scholarships, because of that, I think that it’s unfair to pay children for their good marks, although they need money. Moreover, this increases their differences and their discrimination.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, I think that it’s a very bad idea.
I agree with Isa. In my opinion it isn't a good idea paying needy children for getting good califications. The goverment must look for other solutions to motivate needy children to get good grades. They must spend money in scholarships or in other prizes like school materials which will be more effective to promote needy children in their studies.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Isa. Paying the students to get better results is not the best solution. I think they should think in other ways to encourage the students like doing practical and funnier lessons.
ReplyDeleteIf the pay them, may be they are going to think that is easier not to study because then they will pay them more and more.
María P
ReplyDeleteI’m agree with Isa too, in my opinion, I don’t think paying students for good grades is the best solution to increase and improve education because this will cause competition among students and a waste of money unfair and unnecessary. Every child should receive attention, encouragement and help from parents or teachers to continue their task. And that money could be used to improve school equipment, facilities or even the most disadvantaged families.
Well , Im not saying that this mesure is write on wrong but, I think that when we read this articule most of us are thinking about pay 5, 8 or even 10 years old children to get good marks, but i think this method has been though for older people, imagine a 15 or 16 years old boy who really wants to study but his economical situation is very bad,his parents has no choice to work and he has to take care of his family( its quite odd but it happens) so that boy have two choices: a)leave the studies and start working for to be able to eat and feed his family as much as pay the house rent and bills( water, electricity, etc), or b)keep going to school and dont have money to even have breakfast every morning... in this case its more that normal that that boy will choose the option "b" and leave his studies... so why not give him the chance to study hard getting a very good marks and as reward give him the money he needs to help his family?
ReplyDeleteI think schools are not a bussines but through the privatization of these, it seems. It is a shame that many people can not access to specific schools for the simple fact of not having money for the enrollment or school supplies, why parents should choose schools with the worst conditions in terms of resources and lack adaptations money?
ReplyDelete